Hundreds of Minnesota residents are evacuated as a 40-car train carrying hazardous materials, including ethanol, derails and bursts into flames – as Pete Buttigieg says he is “watching closely”.
- The train derailed in Raymond, Minneapolis, a city of fewer than 800 people
- The BNSF train carried a mixed cargo of ethanol and corn syrup
Residents were evacuated after a 40-car train carrying hazardous materials derailed and caught fire in the early hours of the morning.
Locals in Raymond, Minnesota, were evicted from their properties after the freight train skidded off the tracks around 1 a.m. Thursday morning.
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe train was carrying ethanol and corn syrup on about 14 cars, which started the fire.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has confirmed he is “closely” monitoring the situation and has spoken out about the incident after he was accused of failing to address a similar incident in Ohio last month.
Ohio is suing the Norfolk Southern Railroad Company over the devastating freight derailment that exposed the village of East Palestine to massive amounts of toxic materials.
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe train was carrying ethanol and corn syrup on about 14 cars, which started the fire
No reported injuries have yet been confirmed at Raymond and authorities have established a one-mile perimeter around the site for safety reasons.
It came hours after another Burlington Northern Santa Fe train spun off the tracks near a granary in Hettinger on Wednesday morning.
There were no hazardous materials on board as the cars were carrying grain and there were no injuries.
However, a vehicle struck a building at the elevator site and damaged it, but there was no other property damage — unlike the fire that broke out in Minnesota.
Raymond locals have been warned not to travel to the site as officers continue to battle the fire.
Secretary Buttigieg told CNN, “I’ve been in touch with the governor. We have staff on site.
“The reason we are so committed to rail safety is to make sure there are fewer of these incidents.
“The reason there is less than there used to be is regulation and enforcement.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has confirmed he is “closely” monitoring the situation and has spoken out about the incident after he was accused of failing to address a similar incident in Ohio last month
Raymond locals have been warned not to travel to the site as officers continue to battle the fire
“But there are still far too many, and it’s happening more often than I think most Americans realize, that’s exactly why we’ve asked Congress to create tougher fines and penalties and more agencies.”
Nearby Highway 23 was closed in both directions between Kandiyohi County Road 1 and Chippewa County Road 1.
The Raymond Fire Department announced on Facebook after the incident: “The town is being evacuated as a precaution. Residents can take shelter at Prinsburg School.”
BNSF, one of the country’s largest rail freight networks, said it was investigating the cause of the incident involving one of its trains.
“BNSF field workers are responding to assess the derailment site and will be working closely with local first responders,” company spokeswoman Lena Kent told ABC News.
“The main line is closed and an estimated time for the line to reopen is not available.”
US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg also confirmed that Federal Railroad Administration officials were on the scene to help with the response.
“FRA is on the ground after a BNSF train carrying ethanol derailed early this morning, prompting an evacuation in the Raymond, MN area,” Buttigieg said.
“No injuries or fatalities have been reported at this time. We are closely monitoring as more details emerge and will be involved in the investigation.’