(The following story by Colin Atagi and Angela Franzer appeared on The Desert Sun website on March 7.)
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — All railcars involved in Monday’s train derailment near Mecca were removed from the track Thursday evening.
Crews Thursday night began replacing damaged track and removing any contaminated soil from the area, said Cal Fire Capt. Fernando Herrera.
“The soil contains large amounts of acid and some of it has not mixed well with the soil itself,” he said.
Crews learned Monday that two tankers containing phosphoric and hydrochloric acids had leaked.
Initial concerns that three other tankers – each containing hydrochloric acid – had also leaked were alleviated Thursday when crews discovered them still intact.
Crews were expected to work through the night to clear the scene.
Residents who evacuated from the area won’t be able to return home until at least today.
Emergency crews may create safety brochures to hand to residents before allowing to return home once the scene is clear.
“It’ll be a gradual re-entry,” Herrera said.
Crews continued to work all night cleaning up the area in a “slow but sure” effort, said Zoe Richmond, spokeswoman for Union Pacific.
The 65-car freight train was traveling from Colton to El Centro at 8:45 p.m. Monday when it derailed near Grant Street and Hammond Road near Mecca. Twenty-nine cars overturned.
About 40 homes within a nine-square-mile area were evacuated Monday night and Tuesday morning.
Officials have not determined what caused the derailment.