Kamloops derailment spills 80,000 litres of fuel

A train derailment along Kamloops Lake last weekend is now estimated to have spilled more than 80,000 litres of aviation fuel.

The province estimated the amount after rail company crews pumped out what fuel remained in the toppled cars, which had less than half of their combined capacity leftover.

The Nov. 1 Canadian Pacific Kansas City incident saw 17 cars derailed. Twelve were loaded, including four with fuel.

Between Kamloops Lake and a steep cliffside, the derailment just west of the city is suspected to have been caused by falling rocks.

Railway crews and personnel from multiple government agencies have responded to the scene in an effort to contain the spills and cleanup the cars. The railway was reopened within days, but the cars haven’t yet been removed.

While containment and cleanup efforts are ongoing, an estimated 12,700 litres of aviation fuel leaked from one car and another 68,000 litres leaked from another, according to an update from the BC Ministry of Environment. A single fuel car carries a maximum of around 114,000 litres.

The combined total of the spill is similar to the volume of 56 six-person Beachcomber hot tubs. It’s enough to fuel up a Boeing 737 Max 8 three times.

According to the ministry, three empty gasoline cars are also yet to be cleaned up. Two are tied to the shoreline but submerged, and it may have leaked residual fuel from inside.

Water tests are ongoing to measure whether drinking water downsteam is affected.