Canada Train Explosion Causes At Least Five Deaths
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Lac-Megantic (Maxianos, Creative Commons)
"We met many people who had reported family members missing," said Quebec provincial police lieutenant Michel Brunet. "Right now I can tell you about 40 [people are missing]."
Brunet also said "we know that there will be many more" deaths.
The 73-car train derailment occurred in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, and the ensuing explosion and fires caused a lot of damage to the downtown district.
The train was parked for the night seven miles away from the lakeside town, according to the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway, proceeded to slip downhill where it crashed into Lac-Megantic.
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Firefighters, including some from the United States, are still on the scene as two of the cars are still on fire out of the five that exploded.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is currently in Lac-Megantic now, and Mayor Colette Roy-Laroche had a press conference about the incident. Roy-Laroche said that he hasn't spoken to the railroad company yet.
The Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway carried almost 3 million barrels of oil across the Maine border last year according to the Los Angeles Times.
For any information on the missing people, call 1-800-659-4264.
Reach Executive Producer Max Meyer by email.
