Death toll climbs to 5 and 40 missing in Canada rail tragedy
Source: Agencies |
July 8, 2013, Monday
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THE death toll from the explosion of a runaway freight train in a small Quebec town rose to five yesterday and another 40 people are missing, police said.
The driverless train derailed and blew up early Saturday in Lac-Megantic, destroying dozens of buildings in the center of the town.
Quebec provincial police lieutenant Michel Brunet said yesterday that at least 40 people are reported missing, but cautioned that the number could fluctuate up or down. Brunet confirmed two more deaths early yesterday afternoon after confirming two people were found dead overnight. One death was confirmed on Saturday.
Fires were preventing rescuers from reaching part of the 73-car train, and billowing black smoke could still be seen long after the derailment.
The eruptions early Saturday morning sent residents of Lac-Megantic scrambling through the streets under the intense heat of towering fireballs and a red glow that illuminated the night sky.
Local Fire Chief Denis Lauzon likened the charred scene to "a war zone."
The search for victims in the charred debris was hampered because two of the train's cars were still burning yesterday morning, sparking fears of more potentially fatal blasts.
Two of the five cars that exploded are still on fire 36 hours later, Lauzon said. He said firefighters are staying 150 meters from the burning tankers, which are being doused with water and foam to keep them from overheating and exploding.
The multiple blasts came over a span of several hours in the town of 6,000, which is about 250 kilometers east of Montreal. About 30 buildings were destroyed after tanker cars laden with oil caught fire in the picturesque lakeside town in Quebec's Eastern Townships.
The derailment caused several tanker rail cars to explode in the downtown district, a popular 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. The fire then spread to several homes.
The driverless train derailed and blew up early Saturday in Lac-Megantic, destroying dozens of buildings in the center of the town.
Quebec provincial police lieutenant Michel Brunet said yesterday that at least 40 people are reported missing, but cautioned that the number could fluctuate up or down. Brunet confirmed two more deaths early yesterday afternoon after confirming two people were found dead overnight. One death was confirmed on Saturday.
Fires were preventing rescuers from reaching part of the 73-car train, and billowing black smoke could still be seen long after the derailment.
The eruptions early Saturday morning sent residents of Lac-Megantic scrambling through the streets under the intense heat of towering fireballs and a red glow that illuminated the night sky.
Local Fire Chief Denis Lauzon likened the charred scene to "a war zone."
The search for victims in the charred debris was hampered because two of the train's cars were still burning yesterday morning, sparking fears of more potentially fatal blasts.
Two of the five cars that exploded are still on fire 36 hours later, Lauzon said. He said firefighters are staying 150 meters from the burning tankers, which are being doused with water and foam to keep them from overheating and exploding.
The multiple blasts came over a span of several hours in the town of 6,000, which is about 250 kilometers east of Montreal. About 30 buildings were destroyed after tanker cars laden with oil caught fire in the picturesque lakeside town in Quebec's Eastern Townships.
The derailment caused several tanker rail cars to explode in the downtown district, a popular 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. The fire then spread to several homes.
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