Fuel train explodes in Canadian town, 60 missing

A train carrying light crude oil has exploded in a Canadian town, forcing the evacuation of up to 1,000 people. The blast sent a fireball and black smoke into the air, destroying dozens of buildings in Lac-Megantic, some 155 miles (250 km) east of Montreal.

60 people are missing, but no casualties have yet been confirmed.

Some 77 fuel cars reportedly uncoupled from the parked train engine and derailed early on Saturday; 120 fire fighters are still fighting the blaze.

The Montreal, Maine & Atlantic train had five locomotive engines and 77 cars filled with light crude oil, and was parked outside Lac-Megantic during an overnight driver shift-change, a company spokesman told Canada's La Presse newspaper.

The cars filled with fuel somehow became uncoupled, causing them to roll into the town and derail, said the spokesman, Joe McGonigle.

Although police said they could not yet get close enough to determine the number of victims from the still-burning fires, an aerial photograph showed widespread devastation in the town centre. Police also said that some in the town were worried because they could not reach missing family or friends by phone.

Residents told reporters they had heard five or six large blasts. Nearly 12 hours after the derailment, one rail car was still burning.