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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 missing since Saturday's train crash 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. |
| During a visit to the town, Quebec's premier said the train owner's response to the disaster had been "deplorable". | During a visit to the town, Quebec's premier said the train owner's response to the disaster had been "deplorable". |
| 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. | 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. |
| Some 2,000 town residents were forced to flee their homes. | Some 2,000 town residents were forced to flee their homes. |
| 'Unacceptable' | 'Unacceptable' |
| 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 24 recovered bodies has been identified as 93-year-old Elianne Parenteau. | Police say one of the 24 recovered bodies has been identified as 93-year-old Elianne Parenteau. |
| 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. |
| Quebec Premier Pauline Marois visited Lac-Magentic on Thursday, and criticised the company's response to the crash. | Quebec Premier Pauline Marois visited Lac-Magentic on Thursday, and criticised the company's response to the crash. |
| She said Rail World chief executive Edward Burkhart's attitude was "unacceptable" and "deplorable". | She said Rail World chief executive Edward Burkhart's attitude was "unacceptable" and "deplorable". |
| "The leader of this company should have been there from the beginning," she told a news conference. | "The leader of this company should have been there from the beginning," she told a news conference. |
| She also announced a C$60m (£38m; $57m) fund to help victims and rebuild the town. | She also announced a C$60m (£38m; $57m) fund to help victims and rebuild the town. |
| 'Abject apology' | 'Abject apology' |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "He's not in jail, but police have talked about prosecuting him," Mr Burkhardt said. "I understand exactly why the police are considering criminal charges. If that's the case, let the chips fall where they may." | "He's not in jail, but police have talked about prosecuting him," Mr Burkhardt said. "I understand exactly why the police are considering criminal charges. If that's the case, let the chips fall where they may." |
| He also said he had initially stayed in Chicago after the incident to communicate with insurers and various officials. | He also said he had initially stayed in Chicago after the incident to communicate with insurers and various officials. |
| "I understand the extreme anger," he said. "We owe an abject apology to the people in this town." | "I understand the extreme anger," he said. "We owe an abject apology to the people in this town." |
| Authorities have asked the relatives of those still missing to provide DNA samples. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| It later rolled downhill, gathering speed until it derailed in Lac-Megantic and exploded. | It later rolled downhill, gathering speed until it derailed in Lac-Megantic and exploded. |
| The train, bound from the Bakken oil region in the US state of North Dakota, was heading to a refinery on the east coast of Canada. | The train, bound from the Bakken oil region in the US state of North Dakota, was heading to a refinery on the east coast of Canada. |