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Canada train disaster: Blast missing 'probably dead' Canada train disaster: Blast missing 'probably dead'
(about 3 hours later)
Canadian police have said 30 people still missing since Saturday's train disaster in a Quebec town are "most probably dead". Canadian police have said 30 people missing since Saturday's train crash in a Quebec town are "most probably dead".
Twenty bodies have already been found after a runaway train carrying oil derailed and exploded in Lac-Megantic.Twenty bodies have already been found after a runaway train carrying oil derailed and exploded in Lac-Megantic.
The train operator's boss blamed a Canadian driver for the accident, saying he had probably failed to set a series of hand brakes. During a visit to the town, Quebec's premier said the train owner's response to the disaster had been "deplorable".
At least 30 buildings were razed by the fireball from the explosion. The head of Rail World accused a local driver of failing to set a series of hand brakes. Swathes of the town centre were wiped out in the huge blast.
This forced some 2,000 town residents to flee their homes. Some 2,000 town residents were forced to flee their homes.
'Burnt to ashes''Burnt to ashes'
On Wednesday, Quebec police inspector Michel Forget told the families of the missing that their loved ones were "most probably dead in this tragedy".On Wednesday, Quebec police inspector Michel Forget told the families of the missing that their loved ones were "most probably dead in this tragedy".
"It is with great sadness that I give you this news," he said."It is with great sadness that I give you this news," he said.
Police say one of the 20 recovered bodies has been identified and the victim's relatives have been notified.Police say one of the 20 recovered bodies has been identified and the victim's relatives have been notified.
No official list of missing people has yet been released, but unofficial accounts have been circulating on social media.No official list of missing people has yet been released, but unofficial accounts have been circulating on social media.
Authorities have asked the relatives of those still missing to provide DNA samples by bringing in toothbrushes, razors and other items. Quebec Premier Pauline Marois visited Lac-Magentic on Thursday, and criticised the company's response to the crash.
But the authorities have also warned some of the bodies may have been burnt to ashes in the explosion. She said Rail World chief executive Edward Burkhart's attitude was "unacceptable" and "deplorable".
'Serious gaps' Before her visit she said: "We have realised there are serious gaps from the railway company from not having been there and not communicating with the public."
Earlier on Wednesday, Rail World chief executive officer Edward Burkhardt was heckled by Lac-Megantic residents as he made his first visit to the town. She also announced a C$60m (£38m; $57m) fund to help victims and rebuild the town.
Mr Burkhardt revealed that an engineer who was in charge of driving the train had been suspended without pay. Mr Burkhardt was due to meet town residents and the mayor on Thursday, a day after he was heckled as he made his first visit to Lac-Megantic.
"He said he applied 11 hand brakes," Mr Burkhardt said, flanked by police escorts. On Wednesday, he revealed an engineer who was in charge of driving the train had been suspended without pay, because they did not believe his claim to have fully applied the brakes.
"We think that's not true. Initially we believed him but now we don't." "He's not in jail, but police have talked about prosecuting him," Mr Burkhardt said.
Quebec Premier Pauline Marois, who visited Lac-Magentic on Thursday, has criticised the company's response to the crash. "I understand exactly why the police are considering criminal charges. If that's the case, let the chips fall where they may."
"We have realised there are serious gaps from the railway company from not having been there and not communicating with the public," she said as she announced a C$60m (£38m; $57m) fund to help victims and rebuild the town. Authorities have asked the relatives of those still missing to provide DNA samples.
Officials have also warned that some of the bodies may have been burnt to ashes in the explosion.
Police are still searching the disaster site, and the heart of the town is being treated as a crime scene.Police are still searching the disaster site, and the heart of the town is being treated as a crime scene.
At the centre of the destruction was the Musi-Cafe, a popular bar that was busy at the time of the explosion.At the centre of the destruction was the Musi-Cafe, a popular bar that was busy at the time of the explosion.
Police earlier said investigators had ruled out terrorism as a cause of the disaster, but criminal negligence remained under consideration.
The train, carrying 72 cars of crude oil, was parked shortly before midnight on Friday in the town of Nantes about seven miles (11km) away.The train, carrying 72 cars of crude oil, was parked shortly before midnight on Friday in the town of Nantes about seven miles (11km) away.
But local firefighters were called shortly afterwards to put out a fire on the train. It later rolled downhill in an 18-minute journey, gathering speed until it derailed in Lac-Megantic and exploded.
While tackling that blaze, they shut down a locomotive that had apparently been left running to keep the brakes engaged.
Less than an hour later, the train began moving downhill in an 18-minute journey, gathering speed until it derailed in Lac-Megantic and exploded.
The fire department and the train's owners have appeared in recent days to point the finger at one another.
Mr Burkhardt suggested on Tuesday evening that firefighters shared some of the blame.
The train was carrying oil from the Bakken oil region in the US state of North Dakota to a refinery on the east coast of Canada.The train was carrying oil from the Bakken oil region in the US state of North Dakota to a refinery on the east coast of Canada.
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