캐나다 퀘백주 동쪽에 위치한 라크 메그내틱 지역에서 지난 6일, 유조열차가 탈선해 폭발했다. 이로 인해 주민 1000여명이 대피하는 소동이 일어났다.
지역 경찰관은 실종 신고는 들어왔지만 사상자 발생 여부는 아직 확인이 되지 않았다고 밝혔다.
목격자들은 폭발로 인해 화염이 하늘 높이 솟았고, 탈선 후 몇 시간 동안 연기가 수 킬로미터 밖에서도 볼 수 있었다고 전했다.
이번 사고로 인해 기차의 73칸이 폭발했고 화재가 번져 6천 명이 거주하는 호숫가 마을의 건물 수 십여채가 파손된 것으로 파악되고 있다.
탈선의 원인은 아직 규명되지 않고 있다.
<관련 영어 기사>
Train carrying crude oil derails in Quebec
A large swath of a town in eastern Quebec was destroyed Saturday after a train carrying crude oil derailed, sparking several explosions and forcing the evacuation of up to 1,000 people.
Several people were reported missing but Quebec provincial police Lt. Michel Brunet said it was too early to say if there are any casualties in the town of Lac-Megantic, about 155 miles (250 kilometers) east of Montreal.
The explosions ignited a blaze that sent flames shooting into the sky, and billowing smoke could be seen from several miles (kilometers) away hours after the derailment.
Some of the train‘s 73 cars exploded and the fire spread to a number of homes in the lakeside town of 6,000 people, which is close to the border with Maine and Vermont.
``When you see the center of your town almost destroyed, you‘ll understand that we’re asking ourselves how we are going to get through this event,‘’ an emotional Mayor Colette Roy-Laroche told a televised news briefing.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper tweeted: ``Thoughts & prayers are with those impacted in Lac Megantic. Horrible news.‘’
The cause of the derailment was not immediately known. (AP)
