A train derailment in a remote area of North Dakota resulted in 29 railcars carrying hazardous materials catching fire. Although no injuries were reported, emergency officials stated that the threat to nearby residents was low and no air contamination was detected. The derailed cars were carrying anhydrous ammonia, methanol, and plastic pellets.
The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality highlighted ammonia as a potential risk, but wind conditions were keeping the smoke away from the nearby town of Bordulac. Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia can have severe health effects, while exposure to lower amounts can cause irritation of the respiratory tract.
Emergency response teams worked throughout the night and morning to extinguish the flames, with occasional flare-ups still occurring as the railcars were being moved. The railroad involved in the incident, CPKC, has activated its emergency response plan and is coordinating efforts to address the situation.
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the derailment, which occurred in a marshy area surrounded by farmland. The merger of Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern last year resulted in the formation of CPKC. The successful firefighting operations have stabilized the situation, but ongoing monitoring and cleanup efforts are expected to continue in the coming days.
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