Advertisement

Fact file: Accidents in Canada with high death tolls

Lac Megantic
Smoke rises from railway cars that were carrying crude oil after derailing in downtown Lac Megantic, Que., Saturday, July 6, 2013. Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press

The toll of the weekend rail disaster that devastated much of Lac-Megantic, Que., stood at five dead and about 40 missing as of early Monday afternoon.

Here is a list of some past accidents in Canada – including air crashes, shipwrecks, mining disasters and derailments – with a high cost in lives:

– 1864 – St-Hilaire train disaster, Richelieu River, Beloeil, Quebec: 99 deaths.

– 1907 – Quebec bridge collapse: 76 deaths.

– 1910 – Spanish River derailment, Northern Ontario: 44 deaths.

– 1914 – SS Southern Cross shipwreck off Newfoundland: 174 deaths.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

– 1914 – Hillcrest mine disaster, Hillcrest, Alta.: 189 deaths.

– 1914 – Empress of Ireland shipwreck in the St Lawrence River: 1,012 deaths.

Story continues below advertisement

– 1917 – Explosion of munitions ship in Halifax, N.S.: 2,000 estimated deaths, 1,950 recorded names.

– 1918 – SS Florizel shipwreck, Cappahayden, NL: 173 deaths.

– 1927 – Laurier Palace Theatre Fire, Montreal: 77 deaths.

– 1947 – Dugald train disaster, Dugald, Manitoba: 31 deaths.

– 1958 – Springhill mining disaster, Springhill, N.S.: 74 deaths.

– 1963 – Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 831 air crash: 118 deaths.

– 1970 – Air Canada Flight 621, near Toronto: 109 deaths.

– 1982 – Ocean Ranger oil platform sinking, off Newfoundland coast: 84 deaths.

– 1985 – Crash of Arrow Air flight in Gander, NL.: 256 deaths.

– 1986 – Hinton train collision, Hinton, Alta: 23 deaths.

– 1992 – Westray mine explosion, Plymouth, N.S.: 26 deaths.

– 1998 – Crash of Swissair Flight 111 into Atlantic Ocean off Peggy’s Cove, N.S., N.S.: 229 deaths.

Sponsored content

AdChoices