A train carrying a combination of ethanol and corn syrup derailed and exploded into flames in the early hours of Thursday, March 30, in central Minnesota.
The incident, which took place in the small city of Raymond, has led to the evacuation of parts of the city due to safety concerns, Time tells us in a report.
Residents Evacuated After Train Derailment in Minnesota
According to a Facebook post from the Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office, around 22 rail cars were involved in the accident, with multiple tank cars catching fire. So far, there have been no reports of injuries, which is good news, but the incident has made people worried about the transportation of dangerous materials.
A half-mile evacuation zone was set up around the wreckage to ensure public safety, and law enforcement officers and other EMS personnel assisted with the evacuation.
Residents were told to leave their homes, and an emergency collection site was set up at the Central Minnesota Christian School building in nearby Prinsburg, Minnesota, for those without nowhere to go.
Authorities Now Closely Monitoring the Crash Site
The incident has drawn the attention of U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who tweeted that his office is "tracking closely as more details emerge" and will be involved in the investigation.
Reports tell us that the train track is currently blocked, and there is no information on when it will be reopened. In addition, Highway 23 is temporarily closed at Raymond from Kandiyohi CR 1 to Chippewa CR 1, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Experts say ethanol is harmful when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Repeated contact can cause skin drying, cracking, peeling, and itching. Additionally, ethanol has the potential to depress the central nervous system, as well as the eyes, nose, and throat.
Train Derailments in the USA
Unfortunately, this is not the first time a train carrying ethanol has derailed in Minnesota. In 2015, two separate freight trains carrying crude oil and ethanol derailed in Wisconsin, resulting in evacuations and fuel spillage.
One of the incidents involved a BNSF freight train carrying ethanol that derailed close to Alma, Buffalo County. As a result, four tanker cars spilled nearly 5 to 500 gallons each, and the fifth spilled 18,000 gallons near the Minnesota border.
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The derailment caused several gallons of the denatured alcohol to leak into the Mississippi River since the train tracks were near the river.
Another train derailment occurred just last month when 38 cars of a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Several railcars burned for more than two days, prompting emergency crews to conduct a controlled burn of several railcars, releasing dangerous chemicals into the air and endangering water sources.
The incident in Raymond highlights the need for increased safety measures when transporting hazardous materials. The potential for harm is significant, and every precaution must be taken to ensure the public's and the environment's safety.
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