There have been no injuries reported and there appears to be no threat to the environment from a derailed Canadian Pacific train east of Sudbury.
A spokesperson for CP, Ed Greenberg, told The Canadian Press that one of the train’s cars derailed and struck a trestle bridge Sunday afternoon near the community of Wanup, Ont.
The impact caused a portion of the bridge to collapse, sending several train cars and their containers plunging into the Wahnapitae River. Police closed a section of road near the trestle for several hours.
Containers and other debris could be seen floating downstream hours after the incident. Two containers were wedged in the rocks near rapids by Highway 69.
Shortly after the accident, officials in Greater Sudbury had expressed concern that the cars contained some potentially hazardous materials that could cause harm if ingested. However, Greenberg later told The Canadian Press that an initial inspection of the containers indicated that their contents do not pose a threat.
Meanwhile, a drinking water advisory has been issued to residents that draw their water from the river. For the time being, residents are being urged to visit four municipal filling stations in the city. The local health unit is monitoring the situation.
“We’ve lived here for 23 years and this is the first time I’ve seen this and it’s really quite shocking,” resident Carol McKegg told CTV Northern Ontario.
Crews continue to work with officials to examine the condition of the containers and determine which ones made contact with the water. Trucks with cranes and other equipment have been brought in to help with recovery and bridge repair.
Greenberg said an initial investigation indicates a wheel-bearing failure may have caused the freight train to derail just before it reached the bridge.
“Our early investigation indicates this incident is the result of an unexpected and catastrophic wheel-bearing failure that could not have been detected in advance,” Greenberg said.
Officials from the Nickel District Conservation Authority, the Ministry of the Environment and The Transportation Safety Board are all on the scene.
With a report from CTV Northern Ontario’s Gord Nicholls
