During the sinking of the Titanic, the closing of the watertight doors played a significant role in attempting to contain the flooding caused by the iceberg collision. However, the specific circumstances and the order in which people died during the sinking were complex and varied.
The Titanic had 16 watertight compartments separated by bulkheads, and the ship was designed to stay afloat with up to 4 of these compartments flooded. When the ship struck the iceberg, it punctured multiple compartments, causing water to flood into the ship. The watertight doors were intended to be closed from the bridge or by the engineers to prevent water from flowing freely throughout the vessel and to contain the flooding to specific areas.
As for the people who were below decks near the watertight doors, their fate would have depended on various factors:
Location: The position of individuals concerning the flooding compartments would have determined whether they were in immediate danger or not. If someone was in a compartment that was already flooded or about to be flooded, they would have been at high risk.
Awareness and Response: The speed at which the passengers and crew were made aware of the situation and their ability to respond to it could have impacted their chances of survival. Those who were quickly evacuated from flooded areas might have had a better chance of survival than those who were not.
Proximity to Lifeboats: People who were close to lifeboat stations and managed to get on lifeboats had a better chance of surviving.
Gender and Class: Historical accounts show that women and children were given priority in boarding lifeboats, and those from the lower classes faced greater challenges in accessing the lifeboats.
It's important to note that the sinking of the Titanic was a tragic event, and the loss of life was significant. The sequence of events, evacuation procedures, and individual actions during the disaster varied widely, and many factors influenced who survived and who did not. The true events and experiences of those on board the Titanic are now part of history and have been recounted through various survivor testimonies, investigations, and historical records.