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| Fiery train crash forces W Virginia towns to evacuate | Fiery train crash forces W Virginia towns to evacuate |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Two West Virginia towns have been evacuated after a freight train carrying crude oil derailed and burst into flames. | Two West Virginia towns have been evacuated after a freight train carrying crude oil derailed and burst into flames. |
| Local websites published images of large flames and a thick plume of black smoke near a partly frozen river. | Local websites published images of large flames and a thick plume of black smoke near a partly frozen river. |
| At least 14 cars were affected and one plunged into the Kanawha River, state officials said. | At least 14 cars were affected and one plunged into the Kanawha River, state officials said. |
| There are also reports that a train car crashed into a house, but there were no initial reports of fatalities. | There are also reports that a train car crashed into a house, but there were no initial reports of fatalities. |
| Residents of Adena Village and Boomer have been urged to evacuate after the accident happened at 13:30 (18:30 GMT). | |
| Darrin McGuffin, about a quarter-mile from the scene, told the BBC the fire was still out of control late in the afternoon. | Darrin McGuffin, about a quarter-mile from the scene, told the BBC the fire was still out of control late in the afternoon. |
| He estimated about half a mile of the river was burning. | He estimated about half a mile of the river was burning. |
| Lawrence Messina of the State Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety told the BBC the car that fell into the river is leaking oil. | Lawrence Messina of the State Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety told the BBC the car that fell into the river is leaking oil. |
| State emergency response and environmental officials headed to the scene - a rural, coal mining area near Montgomery. | |
| West Virginia American Water shut down a water treatment plant, located three miles away an hour after the derailment, spokeswoman Laura Jordan said. The plant serves about 2,000 customers. | West Virginia American Water shut down a water treatment plant, located three miles away an hour after the derailment, spokeswoman Laura Jordan said. The plant serves about 2,000 customers. |
| The state was under a winter storm warning and getting heavy snowfall at times, with as much as five inches in some places. It is unclear whether the snow contributed to the crash. | The state was under a winter storm warning and getting heavy snowfall at times, with as much as five inches in some places. It is unclear whether the snow contributed to the crash. |