Town evacuated after freight trains collide causing massive explosion

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Train Carrying Crude Oil Derails and Bursts Into Flames
Train Carrying Crude Oil Derails and Bursts Into Flames



















A small town in North Dakota was evacuated on Monday night after a mile-long train carrying crude oil collided with another cargo train and set off a series of huge explosions in Casselton.

Around 10 cars were set on fire and the train crash sent flames and black smoke into the sky.

According to AP, the Cass County sheriff's office said it was "strongly recommending" that people in the town of Casselton and anyone living five miles to the south and east evacuate.

There are an estimated 2,400 residents in the town. A shelter was set up around 25 miles away in Fargo.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by ZUMA/REX (3452782b) A massive fireball from an exploding train car rises into the air just west of Casselton. Train collision ignites an oil tankers in North Dakota, America - 30 Dec 2013 The freight train was carrying 110 cars and went off the tracks west of Casselton and was hit by a second train. There were no reports of injuries from the accident.


Both trains were operated by BNSF Railway Co. The train carrying soybeans is believed to have derailed first, before the crude oil train ran into it.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the derailment.

Casselton resident Jolie Fiedler and her husband left their home with their two dogs.

Speaking to Reuters, she said: "It's better safe than sorry - just get out of town and dodge the smoke, I guess.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by ZUMA/REX (3452782a) A massive fireball from an exploding train car rises into the air just west of Casselton. Train collision ignites an oil tankers in North Dakota, America - 30 Dec 2013 The freight train was carrying 110 cars and went off the tracks west of Casselton and was hit by a second train. There were no reports of injuries from the accident.


"I'm hoping that I can go home tomorrow, but who knows."

There are no reports of injuries.

The incident comes after a Canadian National tanker train carrying oil and gas derailed in Alberta in October. A community of 100 people was evacuated.

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