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Rock slide derailed train

UPDATE: 3:40 p.m.

British Columbia's Environment Ministry says a rock slide north of Hope derailed a freight train and led to a fuel spill in the Fraser River.

The ministry says in a statement that a Canadian Pacific Rail train was knocked off the tracks on Thursday by the slide near Hells Gate in the Fraser Canyon.

Several empty grain cars jumped the tracks, and the train engine was knocked on to its side.

The statement says the engine's fuel line ruptured and an undetermined amount of fuel spilled into the Fraser River before emergency workers could temporarily patch the leak.

Emergency responders from the province and CP Rail have been sent to the scene to assess damages and monitor the environmental response.

CP Rail says in a statement that the derailment poses no threat to public safety and an investigation is ongoing.


ORIGINAL: 12:15 p.m.

Ministry of Environment officials believe fuel has spilled after a Canadian Pacific Railway train derailed near Hell's Gate, Thursday.

Emergency Management B.C., NUCOR Environmental Solutions Ltd., Canadian Pacific Railway, and Ministry of Environment crews are on scene.

NUCOR completed a partial inspection of the train engine's fuel tank this morning. A hole in the fuel tank has been temporarily patched, and crews continue to work to remove train cars that were on top of the fuel tank. There are currently no derailed cars in the Fraser River.

The cars at the incident site remain unstable, conditions are muddy and slick, and there is a steep drop off next to the site. Due to safety concerns, Canadian Pacific Railway is standing down NUCOR until the site can be cleared and conditions improve.

Water samples will be collected from the Fraser River upstream and downstream of the incident site. 

Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.



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