CPKC train derails near B.C. community, officials say no danger to water system

The Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway company says a locomotive and several cars, some with fuel, derailed on Saturday. TNRD officials say clean-up efforts are underway.

The B.C. government and other officials are in the process of cleaning up a Canadian Pacific Kansas City train that derailed near the community of Cherry Creek west of Kamloops on Saturday.

CPKC confirmed the derailment to Global News, saying a preliminary assessment found a locomotive and approximately 17 cars had derailed just before 7 p.m.

The company said the derailment involved a mix of loaded and empty rail cars: four were loaded with fuel, five with gypsum, and one was loaded with pulp products. Of the empty cars, three had previously contained gasoline.

“CPKC crews and equipment, including environmental teams, are on site conducting a full assessment and beginning work on a clean-up,” a statement from CPKC reads. “Crews are coordinating with the BC Ministry of Environment and Parks.”

There have been no reported injuries.

The province says a coordination call was held Sunday morning with CPKC, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Interior Health, First Nations Health Authority, EEB, Skeetchestn First Nation, and federal government ministries.

“First thing this morning, of course, as soon as it got daylight, there was an opportunity to get out there and do an assessment of the site,” said Barbara Roden, chair of the TNRD and mayor of Ashcroft, B.C.

According to the B.C. government and CPKC, some of the product from two of the loaded fuel cars has leaked.