(Newswire.net — July 06, 2013) Calgary, AB — The huge explosion and devastating fire caused by the Saturday 1:00 A.M. train derailment of crude oil railcars is still burning out of control in the small eastern Quebec town of Lac-Megantic approximately 250 kilometers east of Montreal. Most of the freight trains 73 railcars carrying crude oil caught fire and exploded in the town of 6,000.
One casualty has been confirmed due to the train derailment and explosions. Several people are still unaccounted for according to the police and there are fears there may be more casualties.
The fire can reportedly be seen from several kilometers away. As firefighters continue to try to get the blaze under control Quebec provincial police Sargent Gregory Gomez del Prado said, “The fact is there are people missing. We are on the lookout for these people and we fear there may be casualties”
At least 1,000 people have been evacuated from the area. People are overwhelmed by the damage that has happened overnight. The towns’ downtown core has been devastated. Gomez del Prado said, “Words cannot tell the damage that had been done. Many, many buildings have been damaged. It’s a catastrophe for the town of course, but also for the whole province.”
Neighboring communities of Sherbrooke and Saint-Georges-de-Beauce are trying to help and also from nearby Maine emergency crews have come to help battle the inferno.
A spokesman for Montreal Maine & Atlantic said the train was secured at about 11:45 on Friday evening. Somehow the train came loose and rolled into the downtown area of Lac-Megantic where the some of the cars derailed and exploded. It won’t be known for some time exactly what happened. Police are talking to witnesses trying to get a grasp of the events.
Authorities are also warning that there may have been a crude oil spill into the Chaudière River because it is a water supply for the town and people in the area. There may be environmental damage so boaters are being asked to stay away. The air quality is being monitored for toxicity to ensure the safety individuals in the area.
The cause of this major catastrophe is still under investigation.
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