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| Fires still burning in Quebec town 24 hours after runaway train crash | Fires still burning in Quebec town 24 hours after runaway train crash |
| (2 months later) | |
| Fires continued burning for more than 24 hours after a runaway train carrying crude oil derailed in eastern Quebec, igniting explosions and fires that destroyed a town's centre and killed at least one person. Police said they expected the death toll to rise. | Fires continued burning for more than 24 hours after a runaway train carrying crude oil derailed in eastern Quebec, igniting explosions and fires that destroyed a town's centre and killed at least one person. Police said they expected the death toll to rise. |
| The explosions sent residents of Lac-Mégantic scrambling through the streets under the intense heat of towering fireballs and a red glow that illuminated the night sky, witnesses said. Flames and billowing black smoke could still be seen long after the 73-car train had derailed, and a fire chief likened the charred scene to a war zone. | The explosions sent residents of Lac-Mégantic scrambling through the streets under the intense heat of towering fireballs and a red glow that illuminated the night sky, witnesses said. Flames and billowing black smoke could still be seen long after the 73-car train had derailed, and a fire chief likened the charred scene to a war zone. |
| Up to 2,000 people were forced from their homes in the lakeside town of 6,000 people, which is about 155 miles east of Montreal and about 10 miles west of the Maine border. | Up to 2,000 people were forced from their homes in the lakeside town of 6,000 people, which is about 155 miles east of Montreal and about 10 miles west of the Maine border. |
| Quebec provincial police lieutenant Michel Brunet confirmed that one person had died. He refused to say how many others might be dead, but said authorities had been told "many" people have been reported missing. | Quebec provincial police lieutenant Michel Brunet confirmed that one person had died. He refused to say how many others might be dead, but said authorities had been told "many" people have been reported missing. |
| Lt Guy Lapointe, a spokesman with Quebec provincial police, said: "I don't want to get into numbers, what I will say is we do expect we'll have other people who will be found deceased unfortunately. "People are calling in reported love ones missing, some people are reported two, three times missing by different members of the family," he said. | Lt Guy Lapointe, a spokesman with Quebec provincial police, said: "I don't want to get into numbers, what I will say is we do expect we'll have other people who will be found deceased unfortunately. "People are calling in reported love ones missing, some people are reported two, three times missing by different members of the family," he said. |
| The derailment caused several tanker rail cars to explode in an area packed with bars that often bustles on summer weekend nights. | The derailment caused several tanker rail cars to explode in an area packed with bars that often bustles on summer weekend nights. |
| Police said the first explosion tore through the town shortly after 1am local time on Saturday. The fire then spread to several homes. | Police said the first explosion tore through the town shortly after 1am local time on Saturday. The fire then spread to several homes. |
| "When you see the centre of your town almost destroyed, you'll understand that we're asking ourselves how we are going to get through this event," the mayor, Colette Roy-Laroche, told a televised news briefing. | "When you see the centre of your town almost destroyed, you'll understand that we're asking ourselves how we are going to get through this event," the mayor, Colette Roy-Laroche, told a televised news briefing. |
| The cause of the accident was believed to be a runaway train, the railway's operator said. | The cause of the accident was believed to be a runaway train, the railway's operator said. |
| The president and CEO of Rail World Inc, the parent company of Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway, said the train had been parked uphill of Lac-Mégantic. | The president and CEO of Rail World Inc, the parent company of Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway, said the train had been parked uphill of Lac-Mégantic. |
| "If brakes aren't properly applied on a train, it's going to run away," said Edward Burkhardt. "But we think the brakes were properly applied on this train." | "If brakes aren't properly applied on a train, it's going to run away," said Edward Burkhardt. "But we think the brakes were properly applied on this train." |
| Burkhardt, who was mystified by the disaster, said the train was parked because the engineer had finished his run. | Burkhardt, who was mystified by the disaster, said the train was parked because the engineer had finished his run. |
| "We've had a very good safety record for these 10 years," he said of the decade-old railroad. "Well, I think we've blown it here." | "We've had a very good safety record for these 10 years," he said of the decade-old railroad. "Well, I think we've blown it here." |
| The blasts came over a span of several hours as the fire tore through the centre of town, destroying at least 30 buildings. Lines of tall trees in the area looked like giant standing matchsticks, blackened from bottom to tip. | The blasts came over a span of several hours as the fire tore through the centre of town, destroying at least 30 buildings. Lines of tall trees in the area looked like giant standing matchsticks, blackened from bottom to tip. |
| Witnesses said the eruptions sent many shook residents out of their slumber and sent them darting through the streets. | Witnesses said the eruptions sent many shook residents out of their slumber and sent them darting through the streets. |
| Patrons gathered by a nearby bar were sent running for their lives after the thunderous crash and wall of fire blazed through the early morning sky. | Patrons gathered by a nearby bar were sent running for their lives after the thunderous crash and wall of fire blazed through the early morning sky. |
| Bernard Theberge, who was outside on the bar's patio at the time of the crash, feared for the safety of those inside the popular Musi-Cafe when the first explosion went off. "People started running and the fire ignited almost instantaneously," he said. | Bernard Theberge, who was outside on the bar's patio at the time of the crash, feared for the safety of those inside the popular Musi-Cafe when the first explosion went off. "People started running and the fire ignited almost instantaneously," he said. |
| "It was like a movie," said Theberge, who considered himself fortunate to escape with only second-degree burns on his right arm. "Explosions as if it were scripted – but this was live." | "It was like a movie," said Theberge, who considered himself fortunate to escape with only second-degree burns on his right arm. "Explosions as if it were scripted – but this was live." |
| Firefighters, including some from Maine, doused the blaze for hours. Local fire chief Denis Lauzon described the scene as one akin to a war zone. | Firefighters, including some from Maine, doused the blaze for hours. Local fire chief Denis Lauzon described the scene as one akin to a war zone. |
| Dozens of residents gathered hours after the explosion at the edge of a wide security perimeter and many feared the worst. Half a mile or so down the town's main street, flames danced around a railway tanker that sat at the edge of the road. | Dozens of residents gathered hours after the explosion at the edge of a wide security perimeter and many feared the worst. Half a mile or so down the town's main street, flames danced around a railway tanker that sat at the edge of the road. |
| "On a beautiful evening like this with the bar, there were a lot of people there," said Bernard Demers, who owns a restaurant near the blast site. "It was a big explosion. It's a catastrophe. It's terrible for the population." | "On a beautiful evening like this with the bar, there were a lot of people there," said Bernard Demers, who owns a restaurant near the blast site. "It was a big explosion. It's a catastrophe. It's terrible for the population." |
| Demers, who fled his home, said the explosion was "like an atomic bomb. It was very hot … Everybody was afraid." | Demers, who fled his home, said the explosion was "like an atomic bomb. It was very hot … Everybody was afraid." |
| Charles Coue said he and his wife felt the heat as they sprinted from their home after an explosion went off a couple of hundred metres away. "It went boom and it came like a fireball," he said. | Charles Coue said he and his wife felt the heat as they sprinted from their home after an explosion went off a couple of hundred metres away. "It went boom and it came like a fireball," he said. |
| Another resident, Claude Bedard, described the scene of the explosions as "dreadful". "The Metro store, Dollarama, everything that was there is gone," he said. | Another resident, Claude Bedard, described the scene of the explosions as "dreadful". "The Metro store, Dollarama, everything that was there is gone," he said. |
| A spokesman for Environment Quebec, Christian Blanchette, said a large but undetermined amount of fuel had also spilled into the Chaudière river. Blanchette said the 73 cars were filled with crude oil, and at least four were damaged by the explosions and fire. | A spokesman for Environment Quebec, Christian Blanchette, said a large but undetermined amount of fuel had also spilled into the Chaudière river. Blanchette said the 73 cars were filled with crude oil, and at least four were damaged by the explosions and fire. |
| "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 Chaudière river." | "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 Chaudière river." |
| He added that a mobile laboratory had been set up to monitor the quality of the air. | He added that a mobile laboratory had been set up to monitor the quality of the air. |
| Firefighters and rescue workers from several neighbouring municipalities, including Sherbrooke and Saint-Georges-de-Beauce, were called in to help deal with the disaster. | Firefighters and rescue workers from several neighbouring municipalities, including Sherbrooke and Saint-Georges-de-Beauce, were called in to help deal with the disaster. |
| Firefighters from northern Maine were also deployed to the Quebec town, according to a spokesman at the sheriff's office in Franklin County. | Firefighters from northern Maine were also deployed to the Quebec town, according to a spokesman at the sheriff's office in Franklin County. |
| Canada's prime minister, Stephen Harper, expressed his sympathy in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those affected by this morning's tragic train derailment and subsequent fires in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec," Harper said. | Canada's prime minister, Stephen Harper, expressed his sympathy in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those affected by this morning's tragic train derailment and subsequent fires in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec," Harper said. |
| "We hope evacuees can return to their homes safely and quickly. The people of Lac-Mégantic and surrounding areas can rest assured that our government is monitoring the situation and we stand by ready to provide any assistance requested by the province." | "We hope evacuees can return to their homes safely and quickly. The people of Lac-Mégantic and surrounding areas can rest assured that our government is monitoring the situation and we stand by ready to provide any assistance requested by the province." |
| Last week a train carrying petroleum products derailed in Calgary, Alberta, when a flood-damaged bridge sagged toward the still-swollen Bow River. The derailed rail cars were removed without spilling their cargo. | Last week a train carrying petroleum products derailed in Calgary, Alberta, when a flood-damaged bridge sagged toward the still-swollen Bow River. The derailed rail cars were removed without spilling their cargo. |
| The Quebec accident was likely to have an impact across the border. In Maine, environmentalists and state officials had previously raised concerns about the threat of an accident and a spill from railroad tank cars carrying crude oil across the state. | The Quebec accident was likely to have an impact across the border. In Maine, environmentalists and state officials had previously raised concerns about the threat of an accident and a spill from railroad tank cars carrying crude oil across the state. |
| The Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway carried nearly 3m barrels of oil across Maine last year. Each tank car holds some 30,000 gallons (114,000 litres) of oil. | The Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway carried nearly 3m barrels of oil across Maine last year. Each tank car holds some 30,000 gallons (114,000 litres) of oil. |
| The Maine department of environmental protection has begun developing protection plans for the areas where the trains travel, a spokeswoman, Samantha Warren, said recently. | The Maine department of environmental protection has begun developing protection plans for the areas where the trains travel, a spokeswoman, Samantha Warren, said recently. |
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