One Killed And Thousands Evacuated After Train Explosion In US

Xinhua: 1 killed, thousands evacuated after train explosion in US

One person was killed and thousands of others were evacuated Saturday in the south-central US state of Arkansas, after a train derailed and a tanker containing flammable gas exploded, local media reported.

Seven empty train cars and a tanker containing propylene derailed in Texarkana, southwest of Arkansas, when the Union Pacific train was hit in the back by another Union Pacific train coming from Chicago, the reports said.

At least two homes were destroyed, in one of which one person was killed, and at least seven people with respiratory problems were sent to hospital for treatment.

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Tyler Morning Telegraph: CREWS MOVE QUICKLY TO REPAIR RAIL LINE AFTER TANK CAR EXPLOSION

National Transportation Safety Board investigator in charge Ted Turpin said the train that included the tank loaded with propylene was stopped on the southbound tracks. Another train, also southbound, hit the stopped train from behind. Four of the stopped cars were knocked off the track and the accordion effect of the force caused the propylene car, which was 19 cars up the track, to leak and soon explode

Turpin said the NTSB investigators will be on site for several days. "We've recovered the event recorder - the black box - so we have the recorded data.

Hall said the accident could have been much worse had it occurred nearer area jails, or if there had been ball players on nearby sports fields. "It had the potential to get really bad. The loss of life is unfortunate but, given the location, it worked out well for us," Hall said.

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