APRIL 11, 2015
EDGEFIELD COUNTY, SC (WLTX)
Authorities say an evacuation order has been lifted for all
but four homes following a 39-car train derailment in rural South Carolina.
Derrick Becker, public information officer for the South
Carolina Emergency Management Division, tells The Associated Press that no one
was injured following the crash about 8:30 p.m. Friday in Trenton. He says four
homes closest to the wooded crash scene remain evacuated Saturday as a
precaution.
It is confirmed that a total of 39 cars derailed when the
train hit a tree that fell across the tracks in a storm.
A Norfolk Southern train derailed in Edgefield County Friday
night, prompting an evacuation for people living in the area.
The derailment took place just after 8:30 p.m.. at Salters
Pond Road and Highway 121 near the town of Trenton.
South Carolina Emergency Management Division officials say 39
cars derailed, including one carrying anhydrous ammonia. It appears that car
did not leak, but another carrying ammonium nitrate did spill.
Officials say there is no danger to the public at this time.
Both products are used as a fertilizer. Ammonium nitrate is
not typically hazardous to people's health, but it is potentially explosive.
Thirty people were evacuated as a precaution. Local
officials activated a civil emergency message telling people living within a
1.5 mile radius to move to Mount Canaan Baptist Church on Highway 25.
By early Saturday morning, all residents except those living
on Salter Pond Road were allowed to return home.
Emergency officials say it could take well into the day
Saturday to clean up the spill.
South Carolina is no stranger to train derailments. In
November 2013, an Amtrak passenger train derailed about six miles
southwest of Spartanburg, S.C. – although no cars overturned and none of the
218 passengers and crew were injured.
A little over a decade ago – at 2:40 a.m. on
January 6, 2005 – a Norfolk Southern train was mistakenly diverted onto
the wrong track in Graniteville, S.C., causing it to crash into a parked rail
car full of chlorine. All told 11,500 gallons of chlorine leaked out.
That crash left nine people dead and more than 250 injured.
We have a sense that a big-impact train derailment is
coming. We have our fingers-crossed as
this is the only thing we can do right now other than informing the public of
the risks.
//-----------------------------------//
BREAKING ON 6: +++ UPDATED+++ TRAIN DERAILMENT SCENE TURNED
OVER TO NORFOLK SOUTHERN
APRIL 10, 2015
Update from SC Emergency Management Department:
All residents evacuated except for those living in 4 homes in the area of the train derailment have been allowed to return home. The scene has been turned over to Norfolk Southern Railroad. It is confirmed that a total of 39 cars derailed when the train hit a tree that fell across the tracks in a storm. No hazardous materials spilled in the accident, though there was a spill of Ammonium Nitrate which is a chemical with a "salt like" consistency commonly used in fertilizer.
Update from SC Emergency Management Department, Derrick Becker:
All residents evacuated except for those living in 4 homes in the area of the train derailment have been allowed to return home. The scene has been turned over to Norfolk Southern Railroad. It is confirmed that a total of 39 cars derailed when the train hit a tree that fell across the tracks in a storm. No hazardous materials spilled in the accident, though there was a spill of Ammonium Nitrate which is a chemical with a "salt like" consistency commonly used in fertilizer.
Update from SC Emergency Management Department, Derrick Becker:
There is no word on when those families who were evacuated
will be allowed to return to their homes. If anyone has any questions
regarding the derailment and evacuation updates please call the Edgefield
County EMA Hotline at: 803-637-2627
++++++++++++++++UPDATED AT 1:01am ++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++UPDATED AT 1:01am ++++++++++++
Emergency responders believe the scene is stable but they
will continue to monitor overnight. There is currently no plan to expand
the evacuation area. This according to SC State Senator Shane Massey
++++UPDATED at 12:38am ++++++
This is the latest from the SC Emergency Management
Division: 30 people have been evacuated as a precaution but there
is no danger to residents at this time. The chemicals being carried on the 15
cars that derailed were anhydrous ammonia (no leak) and ammonium nitrate. Continue
to follow WJBF News Channel 6 for updates.
*** UPDATED at 11:36 P.M. on Friday, April 10th***
South Carolina Emergency Management Division, Norfolk Southern, and Aiken Hazmat Teams are on the scene.
State Senator Shane Massey said in a tweet minutes ago that the train apparently hit a tree that had fallen onto the tracks - 2 locomotives and 12 cars jumped the tracks.
If you live within a mile and a half of the intersection of Salters Pond Road and Highway 121 in Trenton, you need to evacuate to Mount Cannon Church on Highway 25 in Edgefield.
Emergency Management Director Suzy Spurgeon cannot confirm the chemicals that were on the train, but a substance is leaking and that's why the evacuation has been ordered.
Follow us on wjbf.com, Facebook and Twitter for the latest details as they become available.
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*** UPDATED at 11:28 P.M. on Friday, April 10th***
We have confirmed that this train derailment involved a Norfolk Southern train, and it occurred around 8:40 p.m. Friday night.
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*** UPDATED at 10:12 P.M. on Friday, April 10th***
Residents living in a mile and a half radius of the Salters Pond Road & Highway 121 intersection in Trenton, South Carolina are asked to evacuate immediately to Mount Cannon Church on Highway 25 in Edgefield County.
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*** UPDATED at 9:55 P.M. on Friday, April 10th***
The Edgefield County Sheriff's Office is confirming a train derailment near Salters Pond Road, which is off of Highway 121.
Several train cars were involved and there is an unknown substance leaking from the train. A mile and a half evacuation from the scene is happening right now.
There is no word on what the substance is, or if anyone was hurt. We have crews at the scene and we are working to bring you the latest information as this story develops.
Source: www.wjbf.com