A Canadian Pacific train derailed in rural North Dakota on Sunday night, causing concern over the spillage of hazardous materials. However, local authorities and the railroad have assured the public that there is no threat to their safety.
The derailment occurred outside Wyndmere, a town of several hundred people located about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Fargo, with no reported injuries or fires associated with the incident.
Canadian Pacific spokesperson Andy Cummings stated that 31 out of the 70 cars on the train, several of which were carrying hazardous materials, went off the tracks around 11:15 p.m. on Sunday.
Four cars filled with liquid asphalt and two railcars filled with ethylene glycol spilled some of those chemicals in the derailment. Cummings also added that a car carrying propylene was punctured and released some vapor.
While it remains unclear how much of the chemicals were released, it has been confirmed that there are no waterways nearby and the chemical spills have been contained at the site of the derailment.
The railroad’s hazardous materials experts are currently working with local first responders to clean up the spill, and several roads in the area remain shut down.
According to Cummings, the railroad believes that a broken rail caused the derailment.
This incident comes after last month’s fiery derailment of a Norfolk Southern train near East Palestine, Ohio that put the spotlight on national railroad safety concerns.
Approximately half of the town of about 5,000 people near the Pennsylvania border had to be evacuated after officials decided to release and burn toxic chemicals.
Despite this recent incident, both Canadian Pacific and local authorities have reassured the public that there is no threat to their safety.
Photo: Joshua Henderson/AP
