A massive fire has broken out after a Union Pacific in Illinois train derailed and erupted in flames on Tuesday around 12.30pm in St. Clair County. Harrowing videos from the scene show plumes of black smoke rising from the tracks visible for miles. The cause for the derailment and fire is not yet known. Authorities said they are not aware of any injuries at the moment.
BREAKING NEWS: Freight train with 16 cars derails and erupts into furious flames along tracks in Illinois as black plumes of smoke are seen stretching for miles
- A Union Pacific train in Dupo, Illinois derailed around 12.45pm on Tuesday
- At least 16 train cars derailed then a massive fire broke out
- Harrowing video from the scene show plumes of black smoke rising from the tracks and stretching for miles
- Dupo Police announced evacuations for the area around 1.15pm and several homes in the area were cleared
- Union Pacific released a statement saying the the train was being built for departure when it derailed at the rail yard
- The derailment caused a tank containing a flammable liquid called methyl isobutyl ketone – a solvent for manufacturing paints and chemicals – to catch fire
- Authorities said they are not aware of any injuries at the moment
A massive fire is raging fury in southern Illinois after a freight train derailed and a tank holding a flammable liquid erupted in flames on Tuesday.
A Union Pacific train in St. Clair County, Illinois suddenly derailed in a rail yard around 12.45pm.
Shocking photos from derailment and blaze show at least 16 train cars off the tracks, some of them toppled over and charred in the flames.
St. Clair County Emergency Management said they received a call just after 12:30 p.m and are currently on the scene at the 2400 block of Carondelet Avenue.
Union Pacific says there are no injures reported at the moment. ………more here