More than 15 train cars have derailed in the southern US state of Kentucky, spilling molten sulfur, sparking a fire, and prompting authorities to encourage nearby communities to evacuate on the eve of a major national holiday.
CSX, the transport company operating the train, said two of the at least 16 cars affected were carrying molten sulfur.
Specialized equipment was being deployed to monitor the air for sulfur dioxide, a toxic gas that is released when molten sulfur burns, the company said.
It was not immediately clear what caused the derailment.
Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency following the accident on Wednesday afternoon near the town of Livingston.
“Response efforts for the incident are ongoing, and local officials are encouraging those in the town of Livingston to evacuate,” the governor’s office said in a statement, urging local residents to stay clear of the area.
Livingston resident Cindy Bradley was preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving, a major American holiday during which families get together around a festive meal, when authorities told her to evacuate because “there’s 12 to 14 cars in the river.”
“We said, ‘What, what, what…
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