The Exploding Whale Disaster: When a Simple Plan Turned Into Chaos

How a decision to dispose of a dead whale with dynamite in 1970 Oregon created one of the strangest and most widely remembered disasters ever filmed

In November 1970, officials in a small coastal town in Oregon were faced with a problem that was both unusual and increasingly urgent. An enormous 45-foot sperm whale had washed up on the beach near Florence. It was dead, and already beginning to decompose.

At first, it was a colossal, if morbid, curiosity. Beachgoers and locals came to have a look and take photos. But as the hours passed, the situation, predictably, became less interesting and more unpleasant. The whale’s body began to swell with gases produced by decomposition, and a foul smell spread across the area. It was clear that something had to be done. And fast.

Moving the whale wasn’t a realistic option. It weighed around eight tons, far too heavy for the equipment readily available. But leaving it where it was would only make matters worse. As it continued to rot, the carcass would attract scavengers and create a serious public nuisance. The stench was only going to get more pungent. The longer it remained, the more difficu…