| BurnoutBinLaden | 07-06-2013 10:44 AM |
Train carrying crude oil derails and explodes in Lac-Mégantic, Québec
Quebec town rocked by explosions, fire after derailment - Montreal - CBC News Quote:
Worry is growing among residents of the tight-knit community of Lac-Mégantic, as people search for missing friends and loved ones after a train derailment sparked a series of explosions and a major fire that continues to burn.
The train carrying crude oil derailed overnight in the heart of Lac-Mégantic in Quebec's Eastern Townships, forcing 1,000 people from their homes.
Witnesses reported between four and six explosions overnight in the town of about 6,000 people. The derailment happened at about 1 a.m. ET, about 250 kilometres east of Montreal.
| Quote:
Overview:
1,000 evacuated from their homes
1-kilometre wide security perimeter
60+ missing*, feared dead, no reported casualties at the moment.
Over 100 firefighters battle flames
Undetermined amount of fuel spilled into the Chaudière River
Cause of derailment is still unknown
It was the middle of the convoy that derailed.*
For help finding missing people: 1-819-583-2441
A train carrying crude oil derailed overnight in the heart of Lac-Mégantic in Quebec's Eastern Townships, sparking a major fire that led to the evacuation of 1,000 people from their homes.
Witnesses reported between four and six explosions overnight in the town of about 6,000 people. The derailment happened at about 1 a.m. ET, about 250 kilometres east of Montreal.
It is not yet known if there are any casualties, but several people have been reported missing and are feared dead. UPDATE Radio-Canada is reporting over 60 missing people.*
Update A spokesperson for Quebec's Environment Ministry says 73 rail cars filled with crude oil were involved. At least four of the cars exploded, sending a huge cloud of thick, black smoke into the air.
The fire, which can be seen for several kilometres, has spread to a number of homes. Authorities say some 30 buildings were affected.
More than 100 firefighters, some as far away as Sherbrooke, Que., and the United States, were on the scene early Saturday morning to bring the flames under control.
Authorities set up perimeters as firefighters battled to douse the persistent blaze which was still going despite a steady drizzle.
Worried residents looked on behind the perimeters amid fears some of their friends and loved ones may have died in bars and in their homes after the early-morning derailment.
"We're told some people are missing but they may just be out of town or on vacation," Brunet told a news conference.
"We're checking all that, so I can't tell you at the moment whether there are any victims or people who are injured."
The cause of the derailment is under investigation. A spokesperson for Quebec provincial police said it is still early too early to say what caused it.
The train was reportedly heading toward Maine. The train belongs to Montreal Maine & Atlantic, which says on its website that it owns more than 800 kilometres of track serving Maine, Vermont, Quebec and New Brunswick.
A large but undetermined amount of fuel also spilled into the Chaudière River.
"Right now, there is big smoke in the air, so we have a mobile laboratory here to monitor the quality of the air," Blanchette said in an interview.
"We also have a spill on the lake and the river that is concerning us. We have advised the local municipalities downstream to be careful if they take their water from the Chaudiere River."
Updated - 2: (11:09am EST)
"There are still wagons which we think are pressurized. We're not sure because we can't get close, so we're working on the assumption that all the cars were pressurized and could explode. That's why progress is slow and tough," said local fire chief Denis Lauzon.
"There are some thirty buildings, half of Frontenac Street downtown, which are affected by the blast. Of these, there are shops, bars, the public library, as well as residences and housing."
"A large amount of oil leaked into the Chaudière River and the lake. Urgence-Environnement monitoring the situation and prepared the municipalities along the Chaudière River to the possibility of having to cut their drinking water. In addition, a prohibition to sail in the waters of Lake Megantic, between Veterans Park and OTJ municipality, is in force."
Several neighbouring municipalities, including Sherbrooke and Saint-Georges-de-Beauce, were enlisted to help Lac-Megantic deal with the disaster. Emergency services south of the border were also lending a hand.
The cause of the derailment is still unknown but two theories exist: a fire broke out in the engine or the brakes may have overheated.
Transportation Safety Board of Canada* has sent four investigators on site.
Update - 3: (11:26am EST)
Zeph Kee, who lives about 30 minutes outside of Lac-Mégantic, said he saw a huge fireball coming from the city's downtown. Kee said several buildings and homes were completely flattened by the blast. "It was total mayhem ... people not finding their kids," he said.
Isabelle Aller, who was visiting, says she has been calling her friends ever since the explosion. She hasn't heard from them since. "The more time that passes, the more we are worried," she said. Aller says after the first explosion, some people went to the scene to see what was going on. Several explosions followed afterwards.
Update -4: (11:48am EST)
RAW VIDEO of after the de-railment (CBC)
Over 60 people are reported missing; Radio-Canada.
Update -5: (12:04pm EST)
About 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes. Some of them were moved to the multipurpose Montignac, the local high school. Local media speak of installation for over 700 cots.
In an interview with La Presse, a vice president of the company Montreal Maine & Atlantic, Joseph R. McGonigle said that it was the middle of the convoy which had derailed. He added that an employee who was on board the train was unharmed.
Mayor Colette Roy-Laroche said the passage of the railway in the center of the municipality was not consensus in the community.
"We still have a concern about the movement of trains in the city center, she said the Cogeco News Network. Until now, there were no major incidents."
Local hospitals have not seen any victims arrive for treatment because first-responders still don't have access to the burnt area.*
Experts from Environment Quebec are working to determine whether the smoke poses any danger to people.*
Update -6: (12:33pm EST)
There will be a press conference coming up with more details on the situation. *
Emergency officials fearing worst because so few people are turning up at the hospital with injuries.*
Radio-Canada says train that exploded in Lac-Megantic had no conducter according to company.
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