US investigates fiery derailment of Minnesota train carrying ethanol
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An investigation is underway after the derailment of a train carrying ethanol near a Minnesota town led to the evacuation of hundreds of residents.
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Smoke and fire appear after a BNSF train derailed in Raymond, Minn., Thursday, March 30, 2023 (AP)
A train hauling ethanol and corn syrup derailed and caught fire on Thursday in a small Minnesota town, forcing hundreds of residents to be evacuated, but no injuries have been reported.
"Numerous" rail cars from a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) train derailed around 1:00 am (0600 GMT) in Raymond, Minnesota, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) west of Minneapolis, Kandiyohi County Sheriff Eric Tollefson said in a statement.
"Fire departments from Raymond and numerous area departments responded as several of the derailed tankers started on fire and were determined to be carrying a form of ethanol," while others were filled with corn syrup, the statement said.
Nearby residents received an evacuation alert and were taken to a school and a church in nearby Prinsburg, where volunteers offered food and bottled water.
Read: Freight train carrying hazardous material derails in Arizona
While the US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that no injuries were reported, many residents complained of headaches, nausea, and rashes after exposure to the fumes.
"We are tracking closely as more details emerge and will be involved in investigation," Buttigieg tweeted Thursday morning.
FRA is on the ground after a BNSF train carrying ethanol derailed early this morning, leading to an evacuation in the area of Raymond, MN. At present no injuries or fatalities have been reported. We are tracking closely as more details emerge and will be involved in investigaton.
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) March 30, 2023
The cause of the incident is still unknown. Environmental Protection Agency officials arrived at the site on Thursday morning and monitored the air around the derailment for toxic chemicals.
The Federal Railroad Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) responded to the derailment and said a team would conduct an investigation into the derailment.
The crash comes amid growing scrutiny of rail freight carriers after a Norfolk Southern train derailed in Ohio in February. The derailment resulted in a fire and a toxic chemical spill affecting residents and wildlife for miles.
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While 99.9% of all hazardous materials shipments that railroads haul reach their destinations safely, according to the Association of American Railroads trade group, the recent two derailments in Minnesota and Ohio prove that one single crash involving hazardous materials can be disastrous.
Safety has generally been improving over the years, tehg group argued, but last year alone witnessed more than 1,000 derailments, according to Federal Railroad Administration data.
