A bridge crossing the Yellowstone River in Montana collapsed this Saturday morning when a freight train that fell into the water carrying hazardous substances passed by. Authorities have closed downstream drinking water intakes while assessing the risk of the accident.
According to an initial assessment, of the cars that fell in the water, four contained molten sulfur and another three contained molten asphalt, materials that solidify quickly when exposed to cooler temperatures, according to the railroad company Montana Rail Link (MRL).
The train also had two carriages of sodium hydrosulphate, but neither fell into the water, the company said. An initial air quality assessment has confirmed that there are no leaks in either of these wagons.
Some of the cars that fell when the bridge over the Yellowstone River collapsed. Matthew Brown (AP)
“The current objective of the operation is to safely respond to the emergency, control all leaks and mitigate the impact. Throughout the response, MRL will work with local, state and federal partners to assess impacts on natural resources and develop appropriate cleanup, disposal and restoration responses.
The derailment has resulted in portions of the Yellowstone and Stillwater rivers being closed at the request of Stillwater County authorities. as reported by the Montana Forest Service. The river is closed to navigation, bathing and fishing and there are areas on alert “for possible contact with pollutants”.
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“I am closely monitoring the Stillwater County train derailment and the state stands ready to assist while Montana Rail Link and county officials assess their needs.” Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte tweeted.
“We are committed to addressing any potential impact of this incident in the region and working to understand the reasons behind the accident,” a company spokesman said in a statement reported by local media.
The bridge collapse also ruptured a fiber optic cable that provides internet service to many customers in the state, high-speed provider Global Net reported.
The derailment happened about 175 kilometers northeast of the park in a sparsely populated area. Railroad personnel were at the crash site near the town of Columbus, about 40 miles west of Billings. The river had swollen from recent heavy rains, but it’s unclear if this contributed to the collapse of the bridge. In 2022, the Yellowstone River experienced record flooding, causing extensive damage to Yellowstone National Park and nearby Montana cities.
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