Of the 17 cars that derailed around 7:00 p.m Saturday night, four were loaded with fuel, five contained gypsum and one was carrying pulp products. The others were empty, though CKPC said three of them had previously contained gasoline.
In an update Sunday (Nov. 2) night, the B.C. Ministry of Environment and Parks said fuel leaks from two cars on the slope were reduced “to minor drips” with containment mechanisms in place.
“One empty rail car with potential gasoline residue remains in the lake. There is a second empty gasoline car that slide down slope this afternoon and is at the water’s edge,” the Ministry said. “One empty gasoline rail car (containing residue) remains on the slope.”
“One rail car carrying gypsum remains partially submerged along the lake shoreline. Four remaining gypsum rail cars are along the rail right-of-way.”
The Ministry noted that initial surface water samples were collected from Kamloops Lake Sunday, and that a further sampling plan is being developed. CPKC also said initial surface water sampling work was done on Sunday.
The province noted that staff with the Environment Emergency Branch will be on site later today to oversee the cleanup work.
The cause of the derailment remains under investigation.