The train caught fire in a sparsely-populated area, but residents were urged to evacuate
BBC News, January 8, 2014
A train carrying crude oil and propane is still burning in the Canadian province of New Brunswick after partially derailing overnight.
More than 100 residents of nearby Plaster Rock were evacuated from the village on Tuesday night after 15 cars and one locomotive derailed.
Officials are using helicopters to determine the full extent of the fire.
A derailment in Quebec last July killed 47 people, prompting concerns about the oil-by-rail business.
Another train carrying crude oil exploded in late December in the US state of North Dakota.
Officials said there had been no injuries or deaths in the latest derailment on Tuesday as it had taken place in a sparsely populated area 20 miles (32km) from the US border.
But they were worried about secondary explosions.
"The biggest concern is the propane cars," the Plaster Rock fire chief Tim Corbin told broadcaster CBC.
"If they happen to explode, we're looking at major damage."
Canadian railway officials said four of the cars that derailed were carrying propane and four others had crude oil.
"At this point, we haven't determined to what extent each of those cars is involved," Canadian National Railway spokesman Jim Feeny said.
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