hollywoodtone.blogspot.com Video: Massive blast causes mushroom cloud as oil train derails
hollywoodtone.blogspot.com Video: Massive blast causes mushroom cloud as oil train derails
Casselton - A freight train carrying oil derailed near Casselton in North Dakota on Monday. It was then hit by another train, causing a huge explosion and flames up to 100 feet in the air.
According to local media, the accident occurred just after 2:00 p.m. local time on the Jamestown line outside of Casselton. The actual number of derailed cars is unknown, but Cecily Fong, a spokesperson for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, estimates the number at seven or eight out of around 100 cars. While Fong did not mention the cargo on the train, a local firefighter told NewsDakota.com that the train belongs to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. (BNSF) and was transporting oil. In a later report, it was confirmed that the mile long train was indeed carrying crude oil. The train derailed less than a mile outside Casselton, a small town in North Dakota, and was hit by a second train. While no casualties have been reported, there were apparently multiple blasts which could be seen from miles away, including the massive mushroom cloud shown in the video above. Reportedly the blasts continued for more than an hour after the crash occurred. Around two hours after the collision. the Cass County Sheriff said, “Approximately 10 cars are fully engulfed resulting in heavy smoke in the area.” The Sheriff's office has subsequently ordered an immediate evacuation of the town of Casselton and the area surrounding the town for about five miles south and east. This was due to a forecast of high pressure weather which was expected to push the black smoke plume into the city. Casselton Mayor Ed McConnell said that a shelter has been set up in Fargo, and that he didn't want any residents sleeping in their vehicles. "All the experts say it can be a hazardous situation to their health," McConnell said. "We're going to try to get everybody out of the town."
hollywoodtone.blogspot.com Video: Massive blast causes mushroom cloud as oil train derails