February 12, 2018 | Barb Carr

Monday Accident & Lessons Learned: The Lac-Mégantic rail disaster

The Lac-Mégantic rail disaster occurred when an unattended 74-car freight train carrying Bakken Formation crude oil rolled down a 1.2% grade from Nantes and derailed, resulting in the fire and explosion of multiple tank cars. Forty-two people were confirmed dead, with five more missing and presumed dead. More than 30 buildings were destroyed. The death toll of 47 makes it the fourth-deadliest rail accident in Canadian history.