Train Derails South Carolina - A trail carrying a chemical compound called ammonium nitrate has derailed in rural South Carolina on Friday night. An evacuation order for residents living within 1.5 miles of the accident scene was immediately released but it was lifted on Sunday.
The trail derailing incident in South Carolina happened at 8:30 in the evening in Trenton, according to South Carolina Emergency Management Division Derrick Becker.
Initial reports stated that the train derailed after hitting a tree that had fallen on the tracks, but authorities have yet to confirm this statement since investigation is still ongoing.
The train was traveling through Salters Pond Road and Highway 121 when the accident happened.
After it was found out that one of the Norfolk Southern tankers contained anhydrous ammonia and another was carrying ammonium nitrate, officials quickly issued an evacuation warning for nearby residents to leave the area due to health risks, reports NBC News.
As of late, 30 people were evacuated as part of the general precaution authorities are asking from nearby residents.
Per the South Carolina Emergency Management Division's Twitter post, 15 cars derailed in the accident and although ammonium nitrate was spilled, there were no detectable traces of such harmful chemical when Aiken County Hazmat officials responded to the scene.
Becker said there were "no visible liquids or a plume" on the scene of the derailment.
About four houses near the crash remain evacuated until Saturday.
Authorities said the derailment of the train caused 15 cars to overturn and leak, reports Daily Mail.
The Train Derails in South Carolina news is a developing story. Details are scarce for now, but updates are being released by officials online in relation to the investigation being carried out by National Transportation Board and Norfolk Souther officials, according to WLTX.
