Evacuations underway after BNSF train derails in Minnesota

Evacuations are underway in the city of Raymond after a Burlington Northern Sante Fe (BNSF) train derailed and caught fire early Thursday morning.

The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center was notified of the train derailment at approximately 1 a.m. CT. Emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene, according to the Kandiyohi Sheriff’s Office.

According to a press release, numerous rail cars were derailed on the western edge of the city, within the city limits. Several of the tankers caught fire, burning ethanol and corn syrup liquid the train had been hauling.

BNSF confirmed the derailment in a statement, saying that 22 cars carrying mixed freight had derailed and four cars had caught fire.

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident. Authorities are still trying to assess the situation, Tim Harlow, a reporter at the Star Tribune, said.

“One woman I spoke with who lived right next to the tracks said it just smelled like burning rubber,” he said on “Morning in America.” “I think they’re still trying to figure out what impacts it’ll have, but it’s definitely not a good situation.”