Oil transport derailment forces mass evacuation

In a small town about 155 miles east of Montreal, a train transporting crude oil derailed, resulting in the evacuation of over 1,000 people, and at least one confirmed dead.

Several people were reported missing after train cars carrying the oil exploded near the town of Lac-Megantic in eastern Quebec. Officials have already confirmed one dead, although that number is expected to climb. The explosions ignited a conflagration that shot flaming wreckage into the sky. Smoke could be seen for miles even hours after cleanup crews arrived.

"It's terrible," said Claude Bedard, a Lac-Megantic resident. "We've never seen anything like it. The Metro store, Dollarama, everything that was there is gone."

Authorities have yet to identify the cause of the accident.

Christian Blanchette, spokesperson for Environment Quebec, admits that a large, yet still undetermined amount of fuel spilled into a nearby river. "We have advised the local municipalities downstream to be careful if they take their water from the Chaudiere River," he said.

Perimeters were set up as firefighters and rescue workers from several neighboring municipalities, including Saint-Georges-de-Beauce and Sherbrook, fought to put out the flames. A fleet of trucks from Maine were even deployed to Lac-Megantic, which is roughly 135 miles (217 kilometers) north of the U.S. border.

The train, which was destined Maine, belongs to Montreal Maine & Atlantic. According to the company’s website, they own more than 500 miles (800 kilometers) of track servicing the northeast corridor, including Maine, Vermont, New Brunswick, and Quebec.

How many horrific accidents involving the transportation of oil must occur before the world gets serious about revamping our energy infrastructure? NRGLab has developed a number of ways to mobilize fuel and energy production. From utilizing agricultural waste to generating geothermal electricity, we’re fed up with oil spills. River pollution. Smoke in the air. We’re fed up with innocent people and animals dying in vain.

Learn more about the wide-range of energy opportunities by visiting our website at nrglab.asia, and please keep the victims and families of the Lac-Megantic tragedy in your thoughts and prayers. 

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