The Lac-Mégantic Rail Disaster

from Compact Disasters · host Compact Disasters

In the early hours of 6 July 2013, a runaway freight train carrying crude oil derailed in the centre of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, triggering massive explosions that killed 47 people and destroyed the heart of the town. The train had been left unattended on a steep grade just kilometres away, secured by too few hand brakes and operating under cost-cutting practices that left no margin for error. In this episode of Compact Disasters, we examine how a chain of small decisions led to one of Canada's deadliest rail disasters, and why Lac-Mégantic became a turning point in the global debate over oil-by-rail safety. Visit our website: Compact Disasters Find us on our social media sites: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Youtube #LacMegantic #RailDisaster #OilByRail #RunawayTrain #CompactDisasters #HistoryPodcast

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This episode was published on February 14, 2026.

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