A massive train derailment in Illinois — which saw 14 freight cars fly off the tracks — led to numerous evacuations and a giant chemical fire on Tuesday, according to reports.
Footage captured at the scene shows large flames and plumes of smoke shooting up into the air and out from several train cars, which were said to have been carrying a flammable liquid called methyl isobutyl ketone for the Union Pacific transport company.
No injuries were immediately reported. The cause of the derailment, which happened around 12:45 p.m. local time, was under investigation.
“Approximately 14 rail cars derailed in Union Pacific’s Dupo Yard,” the company said. “A tank car caught fire…The fire was extinguished around 3:15 p.m.”
Schools and residences in the area had to be evacuated due to the exposure to methyl isobutly ketone, which can reportedly cause skin rashes.
“Following an air quality test, area evacuations were lifted,” officials said. “Out of an abundance of caution, CTEH, our environmental contractor, will continue to monitor air quality downwind and southwind at least 5 miles from the yard until further notice.”
Union Pacific apologized for the accident and the “impact” it had caused. Nearly 400 people were without power Tuesday after the derailment. Residents recalled seeing the crash during interviews with local media outlets.
“I was just standing out here working and seen a giant fireball out of the corner of my eye, and I looked over and saw smoke billowing and then it started spreading down the tracks about five minutes after that,” Patrick Wilson, who works near the site of the derailment, told KMOV. “It sounded like it jumped off at first. You could hear the brakes, and then it was all just boom, boom, boom after that and then the fireball.”
With Post wires