No injuries
reported in southern Illinois community
Sunday, February 9, 2003 Posted: 5:42 PM EST (2242 GMT)
TAMAROA, Illinois (CNN) --
A southern Illinois town of about 900
people was evacuated Sunday after tanker cars carrying hazardous
materials went off the tracks, with many of the train cars releasing
their gaseous contents and catching fire, a law enforcement official
said. No injuries are reported.
About 16 tanker cars of the Canadian National Railway Co.
derailed, and each contained one of three potentially deadly
chemicals: vinyl chloride, formaldehyde and hydrochloric acid, Perry
County Sheriff Keith Kellerman said.
None of the cars tipped over. The derailment happened about 9
a.m. (10 a.m. EST) near the town 75 miles southeast of St. Louis,
Missouri.
Kellerman said he didn't know where the train was headed.
"We still have a fire there, and we can't get too close because
of the chemicals," Kellerman said. He said emergency release valves
on several cars were activated, acting as vents to release pressure
and prevent possible explosions. The substances can be deadly in
large exposure.
Vinyl chloride is a colorless, flammable gas used to make plastic
products; formaldehyde is used as a preservative in medical
laboratories, as an embalming fluid, and as a sterilizer; and
hydrochloric acid, a colorless liquid or gas, has many industrial
uses.
The Environmental Protection Agency was among the federal and
state agencies aiding the county on the scene.
