Here is a higher quality and less cropped version of this image (and a couple more images of this). According to here:
By MELISSA KOENIG 15:45 EST, 28 February 2023 |
A train carrying more than 30,000 gallons of propane fuel has derailed in Florida, sparking new environmental concerns just weeks after a toxic train overturned in Ohio.
Southern Manatee Fire Rescue Chief Robert Bounds said Tuesday afternoon that six Seminole Gulf railway cars fell off the tracks near a homeless camp at the Sarasota-Manatee County border.
Five of the cars were carrying sheetrock, while the sixth was carrying propane. Another train car that did not overturn was also transporting propane at the time, and jumped the track during the partial derailment, FOX 13 reports.
So far there are no signs that any of the propane is leaking, and no injuries were reported. But evacuation orders may go into effect in the area as crews try to offload the fuel.
Hazmat teams are now monitoring the situation.
'We have drones. We run the hazmat team for the county of Manatee and we were in the air with our drone, which has thermal capabilities,' Bounds said.
'We were able to look at the tank and ascertain the levels of the tank from the outside, it'll show up different colors if anything is actually leaking.
'There are no leaks. There are no physical damage to the tank other than the rollover, but there is no significant damage to it,' he told FOX 13.
In order to clear the tracks, heavy machinery will now be brought into the area as authorities tell WFLA they must siphon around 30,000 gallons of propane out of the tanker car.
Evacuations may occur at that time, and Bounds said crews are already working to alert members of a homeless camp nearby.
'With the aid of our drone technology, we are able to fly downstream and look on the other side of the tracks and there is a homeless camp out there,' he said. 'We aren't sure how many people. We couldn't visualize that from the air.
'We did send MSO and some other teams down there to address the people out there and to address the potential danger, and we will monitor them as well in the event we have to evacuate.'
Authorities say the derailment occurred in an industrial area north of the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport as the train was traveling south.
It started when one car derailed from the tracks, and caused a domino effect that saw some of the tracks damaged.
It remains unclear what led to the derailment.
The Florida Department of Transportation and state railroad officials were on their way to conduct an investigation Tuesday evening as local officials said they were waiting for guidance from Seminole Gulf.
'We're at a stalemate right now,' Bounds said, according to the Bradenton Herald. 'Until they get their crews here and they make a game plan about how they want to tackle this, there's no guesstimate on how long the scene will last.'
Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge added: 'There has been a pretty significant derailment. It will be multiple days before the tracks are clear.'
Mr_Gobbles on March 1st, 2023 at 15:16 UTC »
Norfolk and Southern on their way to help;
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22290129/lotr_torch_orc.gif
felixlightner on March 1st, 2023 at 15:22 UTC »
"Propane is less toxic than vinyl chloride. So as you can see, our safety program is paying off." - Railroad CEO.
Spartan2470 on March 1st, 2023 at 15:28 UTC »
Here is a higher quality and less cropped version of this image (and a couple more images of this). According to here: