Massive Fire as Train Carrying Crude Oil Derails in Canada

Derailed Crude Oil Train Explodes in Canada

A train carrying crude oil exploded after it derailed near Gogama, NE Ontario, closing Highway 144, according to reports.

The authorities were forced to close a section of the highway for up to two days, with no detour available.

The incident, the fourth derailment in Northern Ontario since January this year, follows another derailment in the same area in February.

Freight Train Carrying Crude Oil Derails Near Illinois City

On March 5, a freight train loaded with crude oil derailed in northern Illinois, exploding into a ball of fire and prompting officials to suggest that everyone with 1 mile radius of explosion evacuate, authorities said, AP reported.

“Since 2008, derailments of oil trains in the U.S. and Canada have seen 70,000-gallon tank cars break open and ignite on multiple occasions, resulting in huge fires. A train carrying Bakken crude crashed in a Quebec town in 2013, killing 47 people. Last month, a train carrying 3 million gallons of North Dakota crude derailed in a West Virginia snowstorm, shooting fireballs into the sky, leaking oil into a river tributary and forcing hundreds of families to evacuate.”

Recent Train Explosions

• Canadian Town Evacuated after Train Explosion July 7, 2013
• Hundreds of Homes Evacuated after Ohio Railcar Leak November 28, 2013
• Two W Virginia Towns Evacuated after Derailed Train Explodes February 17, 2015

Canadian Town Evacuated after Train Explosion

Train explosion kills at least one, leaves dozens missing in Lac-Megantic, Canada

The entire town of Lac-Megantic in Quebec, Canada, was evacuated after a freight train carrying crude oil derailed and exploded, killing at least one person.

The explosions destroyed dozens of buildings in the town, located about 250km east of Montreal.

The runaway Montreal, Maine & Atlantic train, with five locomotives and 73 freight cars carrying crude oil, was parked in the village of Nantes near Lac-Megantic, when the loaded cars became uncoupled, rolled downhill into the town and derailed, said the company.

“We do fear that there will be more fatalities and from now we’re trying to locate the people that are still missing,” said Quebec police.

“When you see the center of your town almost destroyed, you’ll understand that we’re asking ourselves how we are going to get through this event,” said the town mayor.

The incident has been described as a “major catastrophe” by the police.

-oOo-

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Korean plane crash at San Francisco airport, killing at least 2

An Asiana Airlines flight from Seoul, South Korea, crashed while landing on San Francisco International Airport’s Runway 28L Saturday, killing at least two people and leaving 60 unaccounted for.

San Francisco General said they had received at least 10 of the critically injured, including two children, according to a report.

Asiana Airlines Flight 214 was carrying 307 people including 291 passengers and 16 crew.  Not all of the 60 people missing were presumed dead, said the San Francisco Fire Chief.

At least 141 Chinese, 77 South Koreans and 61 US citizens were on the plane the plane, said a report.

-oOo-