Edmonton

Sturgeon County neighbourhoods evacuated after train carrying crude oil derails

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12 cars overturned on the railway in Sturgeon County northwest of Edmonton

RCMP asked residents in River’s Edge and Noroncal to evacuate their homes as a precaution after a train derailed Sunday afternoon. (Teri Gosselin)

Residents of two neighbourhoods in Sturgeon County, Alta., were allowed to return home Sunday evening after their homes were evacuated in the aftermath of a train derailment Sunday afternoon, county officials say.

At about 1:45 p.m., 12 cars overturned on the railway northwest of Edmonton.

The rail cars were carrying crude oil and two of them leaked, releasing about 30 to 50 litres, said Sheila Moore, communications officer for Sturgeon County.

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Those leaks have been stopped, CN spokesperson Patrick Waldron said in a statement Sunday evening.

'Pretty unsettling'

A resident of River's Edge Place, Teri Gosselin, heard the clatter Sunday she described as the "craziest noise" she'd ever heard.

"Just the loudest kind of metal-on-metal noise you could ever imagine," she told CBC News.

"Pretty unsettling."

Gosselin ​and one of her roommates went to check out what happened, when a CN crew member told them to step back because there was hazardous material on the ground.

"You couldn't quite smell the oil but you could see the sheen of oil or some sort of fuel on the cars," she said. "Train parts everywhere."

No danger detected

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Residents were given the green light to return home after CN personnel assessed the area and determined there was no apparent danger, Moore said.

RCMP had asked residents in the River's Edge and Noroncal neighbourhoods to evacuate as a precaution, although police didn't believe there was a danger to the public, Const. Kathleen Sossen told CBC News.

The evacuation affected approximately 46 homes in the Sturgeon Valley area.

Sturgeon County officials say it will take a couple of days to clean up after a CN train derailed Sunday afternoon. (Teri Gosselin)

The county had set up a reception centre at Namao Hall on Hwy 37 for evacuees.

No injuries or property damage have been reported, Moore said.

Waldron said the company has activated its emergency response plan and environmental teams are on scene to start cleaning up.

"We continue to work alongside local emergency responders," Waldron said. The cause of the incident is under investigation, he said.

Moore said the county expected clean up efforts to continue over the next couple of days.