Black smoke billows from derailed tanker cars in Lac Megantic following the crash in July.

The scene on the morning after the rail disaster in Lac Megantic in July.
Photo Credit: Canadian Press / Paul Chiasson

Lac Megantic probe now moves to Ottawa

Canada’s Transportation Safety Board has completed its on-site operations in Lac Megantic, Quebec where a runaway train carrying crude oil derailed in July, killing 47 people and destroying the heart of the town.

At a news conference on Thursday, investigators said they had completed their examination of the wreckage scene and are now beginning the analysis of metallurgical samples taken from the site. That work will be done in Ottawa.

Lead investigator Donald Ross said the probe will will take several months.

Mr. Ross said the deadly explosion and fire on July 6 was much more severe than he would have expected based on what the tanker cars were registered as carrying.

He said investigators will take a close look at the tanker cars themselves and what they were carrying, in order to ensure a similar tragedy doesn’t happen again.

 

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