Train derailment prompts evacuations east of Clair, Saskatchewan

Tuesday, October 7, 2014, 7:28 PM - A train derailment east of Clair, Saskatchewan has halted highway traffic in both directions and prompted evacuations, the RCMP announced Tuesday.

The accident occurred about a kilometre east of the community of Clair, about 190 km east of Saskatoon, at around 10:40 a.m. local time -- prompting the RCMP to issue an evacuation of about 50 residents in an 8-kilometre radius.

Children in a nearby school were being kept indoors.

According to CN, the train was carrying about 100 cars of mixed freight and about 26 derailed.

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At least eight of the derailed cars were carrying toxin materials, including hydrochloric acid and petroleum distillates.

Black smoke billowed from the scene of the accident. Emergency crews on the scene say it could take hours to extinguish the fire. One witness told local media that flames were at least 30 metres high.

No injuries have been reported but Highway 5 has been closed in both directions.

The cause of the accident is unknown, but Weather Network meteorologist Brian Dillon says there was strong winds in the area at the time, with sustained winds around 35 km/hour and gusts up to 50 kilometres per hour.