The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Railroad Administration are investigating the derailment Thursday of a freight train carrying ethanol near a small town in Minnesota that prompted the evacuation of some residents.
The BNSF Railway-operated train derailed at 1:02 a.m. local time and caught fire, forcing some residents to evacuate in the small town of Raymond, Minnesota, about 110 miles west of Minneapolis. No injuries have been reported.
BNSF, which is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Inc, said approximately 22 cars carrying mixed freight, including ethanol and corn syrup, were reported derailed with four cars on fire.
“The main track is blocked and an estimated time for reopening the line is not available. The cause of the incident is under investigation,” BNSF said on Twitter.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Twitter “we are tracking closely as more details emerge and will be involved in investigation.” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he spoke to Buttigieg and was headed to the scene. “The state stands ready to protect the health and safety of the community,” Walz said
IN THE WAKE OF NEW PALESTINE
The derailment of a freight train operated by Norfolk Southern in February released over a million gallons of hazardous materials and pollutants into the environment around the town of East Palestine, Ohio, prompting a lawsuit from the state, congressional hearings, and investigations by U.S. agencies.
That derailment also cast new attention on Buttigieg’s regular absence from what should be his job, as well as train derailments and calls to toughen U.S. laws and regulations. There are roughly 1,000 U.S. train derailments annually.
Notably, Buttigieg did not show up in East Palestine until after former President Donald Trump made a highly-publicized visit to assist those in need.
Copyright 2023 Thomson/Reuters