At least five properties in a rural area in the Regional District of East Kootenay in B.C. have been ordered evacuated after multiple train cars derailed Saturday morning.
The regional district has issued the order in an area northwest of Bull River along the Kootenay River and Fenwick Road, according to its emergency response webpage.
The district has also issued a state of local emergency, stating the derailment “poses an existing or imminent threat to people and property within the area known as Electoral Area C.”
The district said RCMP and railway police performed a “tactical evaluation” this morning to respond to the situation.
CBC News has reached out to the district for more information.
Displaced residents can call emergency support services at 250-489-6977.
Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) said there were no injuries in the incident, which happened in a remote area about 16 kilometres east of Cranbrook at around 7 a.m., according to an emailed statement.
The railway said about 12 cars were involved, including some carrying wood products as well as tanker cars carrying propane, according to early estimates.
“CPKC crews and equipment have responded to the site to conduct a full assessment and begin work on a clean-up,” said the statement.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says it has deployed two investigators to examine the site.
RCMP said in an emailed statement that it was notified of the incident at 9:30 a.m. and deferred further comment to the railway company and the TSB as lead investigators.
