Derailed train spills acid into Ontario river

Residents along a section of river in Northern Ontario have been advised not to use its water after about 100 tonnes of sulphuric acid spilled from a derailed train.

Two dozencars of an Ontario Northland trainjumped the tracks on Friday afternoon about 16 kilometres north of Englehart, home to about 1,500 people north of North Bay. Nine cars carrying sulphuric acid went off the tracks.

One of the cars spilled its entire contents, estimated to be about 100 tonnes, and four cars were still leaking acid on Saturday night into the Blanche River.

The Timiskaming health unit is advising residents south of the spill that the river water has been contaminated and should not be used even to water livestock.

Ontario Environment Ministry officials are taking water samples and have arranged for lime to be added upstream of the spill site to counter the effects of the acid.

"We still have sulphuric acid being discharged into the environment," ministry spokesman John Steele told CBC News Online late Saturday.

"The priority would be to have the tankers upright."

Steele said the spill is significant, given the volume of acid involved, and he said sulphuric acid, in sufficient quantities, can kill fish. It depresses the pH level of the water.

"We are making sure that the cleanup is underway."

Steele said nearby Miller Creek is also of concern to the ministry. He said residents in the area were being notified door to door and through radio announcements.

Ontario Northland spokeswoman Beverly Watkins said the company is still trying to determine what caused the accident.

Emergency response crews were at the scene Saturday night to clean up the derailment.

Jana van Oosten, clerk of the town of Englehart, told CBC News Online the town is "concerned about the environmental impact. We are staying informed of the situation and we are monitoring it to see if any action is required."