(Newswire.net — February 17, 2015) — West Virginia – West Virginia communities, Adena Village and Boomer Bottom, are being evacuated as another explosion took place hours after a train carrying crude oil derailed nearby.
15 out of 109 tank cars caught by fire immediately as the train derailed. At least one tank car careened into a local river causing fears of a contaminated water supply. Another train car slammed into a house and burst into flames.
Officials have secured the area but are allowing the fire to consume the oil, which officials claim the safest way to spilled crude that has already caught on fire. Several fire departments are working to contain the flames stopping. The Department of Homeland Security as well as the Department of Environmental Protection has been notified of the accident, the Charleston Gazette reports.
“At least one, possibly more, rail cars have gone into the Kanawha River,” spokesperson for the Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety Lawrence Messina said. The spokesperson further stated, “A house fire occurred as a result of the derailment. We’re told that emergency responders are having a hard time reaching the house fire because of the derailment.”
Officials are uncertain whether the weather caused the derailment. At the time of the derailment, West Virginia was under a winter storm warning and receiving heavy snowfall, with as much as 5 inches in places. The derailment occurred along a flat stretch of rail at about 1:20 pm ET.
“A CSX train derailed in Mount Carbon, WV,” the rail company acknowledged the derailment on its Twitter page. “We are working with first responders on the scene to ensure the safety of the community,” the company said.
Kanawha County Emergency Management advised locals to avoid the area confirming that several tank cars and houses have exploded when derailed.
A makeshift shelter for evacuees has been set up at a local high school, authorities said.
Earlier this year, six people were killed and at least 12 injured after a commuter train collided with multiple cars in Valhalla, New York.