Crime & Justice • Train disaster

Lac-Mégantic disaster

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Lac-Mégantic disaster was a rail accident and explosion that occurred on 6 July 2013 in downtown Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, when an unattended freight train carrying crude oil derailed and caught fire. It killed 47 people and destroyed much of the town’s centre, becoming the deadliest rail disaster in Canada since 1864.

Background

The accident involved a Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway freight train carrying crude oil through Quebec. It became a major Canadian transportation and public-safety case because of the volume of hazardous cargo and the scale of the destruction.

The derailment and fire

On 6 July 2013, the unattended train rolled into Lac-Mégantic, derailed near the town centre, and ignited. The resulting explosions and fire devastated the downtown area.

Casualties and damage

The disaster killed 47 people and displaced about 2,000 residents. It destroyed or severely damaged many buildings in the town core and caused widespread contamination.

Investigation and legal proceedings

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigated the accident and identified multiple operational failures. In the criminal case, three former rail workers were charged with criminal negligence causing death, but a jury acquitted them in 2018.

Legacy

The disaster prompted major discussion of rail safety, hazardous-material transport, emergency response, and downtown rebuilding in Lac-Mégantic. It remains a defining event in modern Canadian rail history.

Key facts

A runaway train carrying about 7.7 million litres of crude oil derailed and exploded in downtown Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, on 6 July 2013.
Forty-seven people were killed, making it the deadliest rail disaster in Canada since 1864.
The Transportation Safety Board identified unattended operation and inadequate handbrakes among principal causes.
Three former rail workers were charged with criminal negligence causing death but were acquitted in 2018.

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Canadian context

The disaster is a major event in Canadian transportation and public-safety history, and it remains especially significant in Quebec because it reshaped Lac-Mégantic and influenced national rail-safety debate.[2][12][18]

Frequently asked questions

What was the Lac-Mégantic disaster?

It was a runaway freight-train derailment and fire in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, on 6 July 2013 that killed 47 people and destroyed much of the town centre.

What caused the disaster?

The Transportation Safety Board said the accident was driven by factors including leaving the train unattended, insufficient handbrakes, and the absence of a backup safety mechanism.

How many people died?

Forty-seven people died.

What was the train carrying?

It was carrying crude oil, reported by the Transportation Safety Board as about 7.7 million litres in 72 tank cars.

Were people charged in connection with the disaster?

Yes. Three former rail workers were charged with criminal negligence causing death; they were later acquitted in 2018.

Why is it significant in Canadian history?

It is widely regarded as the deadliest rail disaster in Canada since the St-Hilaire train disaster of 1864.

References

Transportation Safety Board of Canada — https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2013/r13d0054/r13d0054-r-es.html
Supports: Train cargo, derailment details, casualties, evacuation, and investigation findings.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lac-M%C3%A9gantic_rail_disaster
Supports: Date, deadliness in Canadian rail history, and broad event overview.
BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42548824
Supports: 47 deaths, destructive impact, and criminal charges.
BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42752119
Supports: Acquittal of three former rail workers in 2018.
CBC News — https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/lac-megantic-10-year-anniversary-1.6899335
Supports: 10-year commemoration and enduring Canadian significance.