Hi, there has been a huge train accident in Lac Megantic, Quebec, Canada this morning. According to what I learned, the train from the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway company was running fast and whistling several times in the middle of the night when it crossed the city. Right after, 73 cars derailed, exploded and got in fire because they were transporting petroleum products.
Several houses are in fire and at the time I’m writing this, they don’t know if people have died. The train was supposed to go to Maine, USA.
I just found an english link. The others are in french but with the help of google translate you should be able to understand and see images from the accident.
http://www.wmtw.com/news/maine/central/village-evacuated-after-quebec-train-derailment/-/8791976/20860670/-/4knpgjz/-/index.html
http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/estrie/2013/07/06/001-explosion-lac-megantic-train.shtml
http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/justice-et-affaires-criminelles/faits-divers/201307/06/01-4668289-un-train-de-carburant-explose-a-lac-megantic.php
http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2013/07/06/important-incendie-a-lac-megantic
Have you learn more about this accident?
All:
Canadian Broadcasting (CBC) website gallery shows images of flaming mushroom clouds towering over the burning town and the fire reflected in the nearby lake. Clearly a disaster of tremendous magnitude.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/07/06/quebec-train-derailment-fire.html?cmp=rss
It is suggested that victims that were dining out or in bars were not able to escape the the first of five massive explosions. Truly a worst-case scenario.
My thoughts are with the residents of this small town.
–John
Wash., DC
There is also more info in a thread on the Trains Magazine forum.
Thanks for the link.
Here in Quebec, they say that there was no driver in the locomotive. Apparently, the driver had been sleeping at the hotel and with the gravity, the train has been going down the slope. Brakes were apparently deactivated. 4 of the 73 cars have exploded.
