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July 8, 2013

5 Killed, 40 Missing After Train Carrying Oil Derails in Canada 
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At least five people have been killed and more than 40 are missing after
a train carrying crude oil derailed and crashed into the center of a
small Canadian town. Dozens of buildings in Lac-Megantic, Quebec were
set on fire and destroyed. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said
the town looks like a "war zone."

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper: "Just once again I have been to
one visit of the site. For people who aren't here, you know it looks
like a war zone here. A large part of the downtown has been destroyed,
it's really just terrible, there has been loss of life as we all know
and there are still many, many people missing."

The train had apparently been parked without an engineer when it rolled
downhill, coming loose from the tracks and crashing into the town. The
trains were carrying crude from the Bakken oil fields of North Dakota.
In a statement, Greenpeace Canada said the derailment highlights the
dangers of unregulated oil shipments by train. Greenpeace said: "This is
more evidence that the [Canadian] government continues to put oil
profits ahead of public safety."

 

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