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Minnesota train derailment prompts evacuation of Raymond Minnesota train derailment prompts evacuation of Raymond
(about 8 hours later)
A town has been evacuated after a train derailment caused a fire in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, CBS reports. Residents of a small Minnesota town are returning home after an overnight evacuation order due to a fiery train derailment.
BNSF Railway said approximately 22 cars had derailed at around 01:00 local time. Several BNSF Railway cars carrying ethanol and corn syrup came off the rails at 01:00 local time (06:00 GMT).
No injuries have been reported but the train was carrying ethanol and corn syrup which has caused a fire to start. The fire continued to burn around eight hours later. Officials said four more cars carrying ethanol may spill.
Parts of the town of Raymond have been evacuated, with the sheriff's office advising against travel to the area due to the blaze. Raymond, a town of 800 residents, evacuated to a nearby church and school until 11:00 on Thursday.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg confirmed on Thursday morning that his office is monitoring the situation. No injuries have been reported. The local sheriff's office is advising against travel to the area due to the blaze.
"We are tracking closely as more details emerge and will be involved in investigation," he wrote on Twitter. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told CNN that 14 of the train's 40 cars were carrying hazardous material.
The fire continues to burn over eight hours after the derailment
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said they had officials on the scene by 06:30 and are monitoring air quality in the community.
"Four cars containing ethanol, a highly flammable product, ruptured, caught fire and continue to burn," the EPA said in a statement.
"Four additional cars containing ethanol may also release."
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz visited the area and said his forthcoming state budget provide "significant investments" in rail safety.
In the past five years there have been over 60 train derailments in Minnesota, according to CBS News, the BBC's US media partner.
Steven Zwart, a pastor in the nearby town of Prinsburg, said his church began accepting evacuees around 01:30.
Evacuees at a nearby church after being woken in the middle of the night
"When you're jarred awake in the middle of the night, you're just kind of trying to figure out what's going on," Mr Zwart said.
"A lot of people were just trying to pull the pieces together."
Evacuee James Miller praised the over 20 volunteers that came to the church to help out.
"I like to say that we're known for that," Mr Miller said. "That makes you feel really good - really the reason why we live in small communities like this."
The latest derailment follows a train crash in Ohio in February which saw toxic chemicals released into the air.The latest derailment follows a train crash in Ohio in February which saw toxic chemicals released into the air.
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