Union Pacific crews are readying to remove rail cars after a train derailment and fire prompted evacuations in north-west Iowa on Sunday (Monday AEST), a company spokesman says.
“We know the impacted cars were carrying hydrochloric acid, potassium hydroxide and asphalt,” Union Pacific spokesperson Robynn Tysver said on Monday in an email to CNN.
The derailment happened at around 2 p.m. Sunday in Sibley and involved an estimated 47 cars, Tysver told CNN affiliate KMEG. The train crew was not injured, Tysver added.
Voluntary evacuation orders remained in place and the Sibley-Ocheyedan Community School District was operating on a late start schedule, the district said in a Facebook post.
“This is a safety measure in case a rail car explodes,” the sheriff’s office wrote.
All waterways in the area were blocked off, KTIV reported.
CNN has reached out to the sheriff’s office and the county emergency management for more information
This content first appear on 9news