Freight train carrying petroleum and 'corrosive product' derails off tracks in South Texas - forcing two schools to evacuate and cutting power to over 2,200
A freight train derailed in southeast Texas on Thursday causing thousands to lose power as homes, businesses and schools within a mile radius were ordered to evacuate.
The KCS train derailed at around 7.30am in Orange County, Texas, the Orange County Office of Emergency Management said in a press release that was shared by the local sheriff's department.
Photos and videos of the scene shows the massive pileup and destruction that came from the derailment.
The KCS train derailed at around 7.30am Thursday in Orange County, Texas, the Orange County Office of Emergency Management said
Authorities state that there were 25 cars involved in the crash but only 15 cars were actually loaded.
Of those that were loaded, five of the cars were breached. While four cars contained a petroleum product that did not pose a risk to the general population, the fifth car contained a 'corrosive product that is being contained,' the office shared in the release.
While no injuries were reported, the sheriff's department said that 600 residents were affected by the derailment.
25 cars were involved in the crash but only 15 cars were actually loaded
Of those that were loaded, five of the cars were breached. While four cars contained a petroleum product that did not pose a risk to the general population, the fifth car contained a 'corrosive product that is being contained'
'At the time of the derailment, out of an abundance of caution, a 1 mile exclusion zone was established,' the department added in the release.
Not long after the sheriff's department post, the Mauriceville school district shared that it had evacuated an elementary and middle school in their district.
'All students at Mauriceville Elementary and Mauriceville Middle School are now being evacuated to the high school,' the district shared, instructing parents to pick up their children from there.
More than 2,200 customers have lost power in the area, according to Entergy.
The Mauriceville school district shared that students from the elementary and middle school were evacuated to the high school