LAC-MEGANTIC, Quebec — Transportation workers searched the site of the week-old train derailment that destroyed the heart of this small Canadian town as police increased the number of people confirmed killed in the disaster by four to 28.
Workers moved carefully in and around the site Friday, searching for evidence that would help explain what led to such massive destruction. Meanwhile, the search for victims' remains continued to be slowed by dangerous conditions — this time benzene fumes from the contaminated soil, which forced officials to try to ventilate the area.
Besides the 28 confirmed dead, 22 others are presumed dead.
Information and material being put together by investigators includes the track's grade, the train's weight and how many brakes were set shortly before the locomotive and 72 tankers carrying shale oil began rolling down a slope in the early hours of July 6, gathering speed for seven miles (11 kilometers) before slamming into the downtown of Lac-Megantic. The crash and ensuing explosions destroyed homes, businesses, a municipal library and the popular Musi-Cafe bar that was filled with people.
"I keep coming back to the Musi-Cafe because I have two children in their 20s and they could have easily been at a bar like that," said Wendy Tadros, chairwoman of Canada's Transportation Safety Board. "I'm sorry I cannot do more to relieve your grief."
It will be months or longer before investigators will be able to draw any conclusions about what happened, Tadros said. Investigators plan to produce a 3D model through laser scanning of images being collected at the scene of the disaster.
Edward Burkhardt, president and CEO of U.S.-based Rail World Inc., which owns the runaway train, has blamed the engineer for failing to set the brakes on the train, which came from North Dakota.
Burkhardt said the engineer had been suspended without pay and was under "police control." Burkhardt did not name the engineer, though the company had previously identified the employee as Tom Harding of Quebec. Harding has not spoken publicly since the crash.
The devastated downtown remained dangerous all week as responders put out fires and struggled to keep the remaining oil tankers cool so they wouldn't explode. The hazardous conditions delayed the search for remains, which were burned so badly that coroners have been able to identify only eight bodies so far.