At Least 1 Dead in Oil Train Explosion in Canada

At least one person died and others were reported missing after a train pulling more than 70 tankers of crude oil derailed and burst into flames in eastern Canada near the US border, the CNN reported, citing authorities. The train jumped the tracks in the small town of Lac-Megantic in the province of Quebec, officials said Saturday. The inferno spread to nearby homes, and authorities evacuated the center of town and a home for the elderly, CNN affiliate Radio-Canada reported.

Thick fuel spilled into the Chaudiere River. "Words cannot tell the damage that had been done," Quebec provincial police Sgt. Gregory Gomez del Prado said, according to CNN affiliate CTV. "Many, many buildings have been damaged. It's a catastrophe for the town of course, but also for the whole province. The sergeant declined to say exactly many people were missing. "We have several people we are looking for. We do expect casualties," he told CNN on Saturday night. The train was parked and secured late Friday in Nantes, just west of Lac-Megantic, a company representative said, CTV reported.
 

Source: BNA