CNN
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Thirty-five cars of a train derailed in New Mexico Friday afternoon, prompting evacuations and forcing the closure of a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 40.
McKinley County Fire and Rescue was dispatched around 12:40 a.m. Friday after a train derailed and caught fire on Interstate 40 near the state line. According to the PNSF Railway, the six train cars that derailed were carrying propane.
Evacuation orders were issued for residents within a two-mile radius of the fire along the New Mexico state line with the Arizona derailment, according to an update from BNSF Railway.
Interstate 40 is closed in both directions and traffic is being diverted, BNSF said. New Mexico State Police said at this time “there is no planned outcome for this closure.” on Facebook.
A team of National Transportation Safety Board investigators is expected to arrive later Saturday. Once on site, their investigators will begin documenting the scene and examine the train and equipment involved in the derailment, the NTSB said.
BNSF said aerial surveillance and fire suppression assessments are ongoing at the location.
No injuries were reported. BNSF says it is currently working with residents displaced by the evacuation and providing necessary shelter and accommodation.
“With all local public safety agencies, BNSF is committed to working within a unified command while ensuring the community is safe and cared for throughout the duration of the incident,” their release said.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the massive derailment Social media The post said, “We are coordinating state, tribal and local agencies to ensure safety in the region. Follow state and local guidance for detour information around I-40.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs also agreed Social media Derailment must be reacted to.
“I am deeply concerned about the derailment on the Arizona-New Mexico border and am monitoring the situation closely,” Hobbs wrote. “My administration has been in contact with Secretary Buttigieg and the New Mexican government. As we learn more about the situation on the ground, the state of Arizona is ready to deploy the resources needed to keep our communities safe.
