Runaway train blast: Dozens missing

Smoke rises from the scene of a train derailment in Lac Megantic, Quebec, Canada
8 July 2013

About 40 people are still missing a day after a runaway train derailed in Quebec, igniting explosions and fires that destroyed a town centre and killed five people.

Police said a higher death toll was inevitable and authorities feared the number might soar once they are able to reach the hardest-hit areas. Fears also remained over two oil-filled train carriages.

Prime minister Stephen Harper compared the area to a war zone and said about 30 buildings were incinerated. Sgt Benoit Richard of Quebec provincial police said only a small part of the devastated area had been searched by yesterday, more than a day since the accident, because firefighters were making sure all fires were out.

The train's 72 oil-filled tanker carriages somehow came loose early on Saturday morning, sped downhill nearly seven miles into the town of Lac-Megantic, derailed and began exploding one by one. At least five exploded.

The eruptions sent people scrambling through the streets under the intense heat of towering fireballs and a red glow that illuminated the night sky. The district is a popular area packed with bars that often bustles on summer weekend nights.

Police said the first explosion tore through the town shortly after 1am local time and fire spread to several homes.

Two tanker carriages were burning on Sunday and authorities were still worried about them last night. Fire chief Denis Lauzon said firefighters were staying 500 feet from the tankers, which were being doused with water and foam to keep them from overheating.

"This is an unbelievable disaster," said Mr Harper, who visited the town on Sunday. "This is an enormous area, 30 buildings just completely destroyed, for all intents and purposes incinerated. There isn't a family that is not affected by this."

The growing number of trains carrying crude oil in Canada had raised concerns of a major derailment.

One death was confirmed on Saturday, police confirmed two people were found dead overnight and confirmed two more deaths last night. The remains were sent to Montreal for identification. A coroner's spokeswoman said it may not be possible to recover some of the bodies because of the intensity of the blasts.

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