{"id":20975,"date":"2013-07-06T10:44:56","date_gmt":"2013-07-06T15:44:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/quotulatiousness.ca\/blog\/?p=20975"},"modified":"2013-07-25T11:43:54","modified_gmt":"2013-07-25T16:43:54","slug":"explosion-and-fire-in-lac-megantic-as-freight-train-rolled-through-the-centre-of-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quotulatiousness.ca\/blog\/2013\/07\/06\/explosion-and-fire-in-lac-megantic-as-freight-train-rolled-through-the-centre-of-town\/","title":{"rendered":"Explosion and fire in Lac-M\u00e9gantic as freight train rolled through the centre of town"},"content":{"rendered":"

The CBC<\/a> has a report:<\/p>\n

A train carrying crude oil derailed overnight in the heart of Lac-M\u00e9gantic in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, sparking a major fire that led to the evacuation of 1,000 people from their homes.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

It is not yet known if there are any casualties, but several people have been reported missing and are feared dead.<\/p>\n

Zeph Kee, who lives about 30 minutes outside of Lac-M\u00e9gantic, said he saw a huge fireball coming from the city’s downtown.<\/p>\n

Kee said several buildings and homes were completely flattened by the blast.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Google Maps shows the railway line entering town from the southwest and curving along the lakeshore, crossing the Chaudi\u00e8re River:<\/p>\n

\"Lac-M\u00e9gantic<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Lac-M\u00e9gantic\"A large but as-yet undetermined amount of fuel is also reported to have spilled into the Chaudi\u00e8re River.<\/p>\n

The derailed train belongs to Montreal Maine & Atlantic, which owns more than 800 kilometres of track serving Maine, Vermont, Quebec and New Brunswick, according to the company’s website.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Update<\/b>: Twitchy has collected some Tweets and photos from Lac-M\u00e9gantic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Les citoyens de #LacMegantic<\/a> ont eu une vision d'horreur cette nuit. #Explosion<\/a> #RCES<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/A4zyOAc7Yn<\/a><\/p>\n

— Radio-Canada Estrie (@rc_estrie) July 6, 2013<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n