Canada·Photos

Lac-Mégantic marks 10 years since one of the worst rail disasters in Canada

A silent memorial walk in the early morning hours to a visit from the Prime Minister to remember the disaster that shook the country 10 years ago.

Photos from memorials held in remembrance of the 47 lives lost 10 years ago

People walk across a street in the early morning.
People walk across the former main street as they take part in a silent march to pay tribute to the 47 victims of an oil-filled train derailment that occurred ten years ago. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

Ten years after one of the worst rail disasters in the country's history, the town of Lac-Mégantic, Que., came together to remember the 47 lives lost after a train carrying 72 cars of crude oil derailed and exploded in the centre of town in 2013.

Residents participated in a silent memorial walk through the town centre in the early morning and gathered at Sainte-Agnes Church to hold a commemorative mass. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Quebec Premier Francois Legault and other dignitaries paid their respects by laying flowers and wreaths on a memorial.

Destruction in the town of Lac-Megantic is seen from above after a rail derailment in 2013.

(Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press)

In this picture from July 13, 2013, workers comb through debris after after a train derailed seven days earlier on July 6.

Downtown Lac Megantic, Que. is shown

(Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

An aerial picture taken on June 22 shows the same area of the rail derailment in downtown Lac-Mégantic 10 years later.

People attend a silent march on the tenth anniversary of a rail disaster.

(Allen McInnis/Reuters)

People attend a silent march in the early morning hours on Thursday.

People cross the railroad tracks during a silent march on the tenth anniversary of a rail disaster

(Allen McInnis/Reuters)

People cross the railroad tracks during a silent march in the early morning hours in the town of Lac-Mégantic.

A bouquet of flowers is pictured resting on a memorial

(Rachel Watts/CBC)

A bouquet of flowers is pictured resting on a memorial that honours the 47 people who died in the disaster, just in front of the steps of the church.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left to right), Quebec Premier Francois Legault and his spouse Isabelle Blais, current Lac-Megantic Mayor Julie Morin and former mayor Colette Roy-Laroche listen as the church bells toll to pay tribute to the 47 lives lost.

(Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

From left: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Quebec Premier Francois Legault and his spouse Isabelle Blais, current Lac-Mégantic Mayor Julie Morin and former mayor Colette Roy-Laroche listen as the church bells toll to pay tribute to the 47 lives lost.

Mourners are pictured in a church.

(Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

People attend a commemorative mass at Sainte-Agnes Church in Lac-Mégantic on Thursday.

Photos of the victims are seen during a slide show during a commemorative mass
Photos of the victims are seen during a slide show during a commemorative mass to pay tribute to the 47 lives lost on the tenth anniversary of the 2013 rail disaster in Lac Megantic, Que. Thursday, July 6, 2023. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

(Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) 

Photos of the victims are seen during a slide show during a commemorative mass to pay tribute to the 47 lives lost on the tenth anniversary of the 2013 rail disaster in Lac-Mégantic, Que., on Thursday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, centre, and Quebec Rremier Francois Legault, right, carry flowers to place on a memorial following a commemorative mass

(Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

Trudeau, centre, and Legault carry flowers to place on a memorial following the commemorative mass on Thursday.

Flowers are left on the train tracks

(Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

Flowers are left on the train tracks in memory of the rail disaster.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ben Nelms

Staff Photographer

Ben Nelms is an award-winning photojournalist based in Vancouver, B.C.