(The Associated Press distributed the following article on July 28.)
BALATON, Minn. — A two-block area in southwestern Minnesota town of Balaton has been evacuated because of a train derailment.
Fire Chief Greg Erickson says 12 to 14 cars on the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad train tipped over around eleven o’clock last night.
He says five of the cars have soy oil in them and six to eight are carrying ethanol, so the fumes could ignite.
Erickson says at least four of the cars are leaking, so workers are trying to keep the liquid from flowing into the lake.
He says crews have put dikes up to limit the flow of the runoff, but he’s concerned any rain from the storm sewers will cause the chemicals to overrun the barriers.
Erickson says trucks will pump up the spilled liquid.
No one was hurt and D,M & Edoesn’t know what caused the derailment.