(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) A freight train came off the tracks near Raymond, the U.S. state
of Minnesota, trend reports citing xinhua .
The Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office said in a news release
that the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) train had numerous
rail cars derail on the western edge of Raymond but within the city
limits.
Several of the derailed tankers started on fire and were
determined to be carrying "a form of ethanol and others with a corn
syrup liquid," according to the statement.
The site remains active as the fire is being contained. No
travel is advised to Raymond, a small town in southwest Kandiyohi
County, Minnesota, of about 800 residents.
An evacuation area of half a mile (roughly 804 meters) was
established around the crash site and law enforcement and emergency
crew assisted with that evacuation, the sheriff's office said.
Residents were instructed to leave their homes and an emergency
collection site for those with nowhere to go was established at a
school building in Prinsburg, Minnesota.
BNSF Railway, which operates one of the largest freight railroad
networks in North America, tweeted on Thursday morning that it can
confirm that a train derailed at 1:02 a.m. local time on Thursday
near Raymond.
Approximately 22 cars carrying mixed freight including ethanol
and corn syrup are reported to be derailed with four cars on fire,
according to the railroad.
There are no other hazardous materials on the train and no
injuries as a result of the incident. BNSF field personnel are
onsite to assess the derailment site and are working closely with
local first responders.
The main track is blocked and an estimated time for reopening
the line is not available. The cause of the incident is under
investigation.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said on Thursday
morning that it is launching a team to conduct a safety
investigation into the Raymond train derailment.
Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz tweeted that he has been briefed
on the situation unfolding in Raymond and is on his way to the site
of the derailment.
"The state stands ready to protect the health and safety of the
community," Walz said.
Train derailments are common in the United States and have
attracted more media and public attention after an early February
incident in East Palestine, Ohio, which involved a Norfolk Southern
freight train carrying hazardous materials.
According to U.S. Department of Transportation data, there were
an average of 1,475 train derailments per year between 2005 and
2021.