A train hauling ethanol derailed on March 30, the latest in a series of fiery train wrecks in the United States.
The derailment ignited several rail cars and forced a mandatory evacuation of the city of Raymond, Minnesota, CNN reported.
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Railroad operator BNSF said that the evacuation had been lifted and residents are "able to safely return to their homes." The company said that groundwater has not been affected.
BNSF is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) (BRK.B).
CEO Katie Farmer was expected to address area residents, according to news reports.
BNSF tweeted that the accident happened at 1:02am local time and "approximately 22 cars carrying mixed freight including ethanol and corn syrup are reported to be derailed with four cars on fire."
No Reported Injuries
"There are no other hazardous materials on the train and no injuries as a result of the incident," BNSF said in follow-up tweet. "BNSF field personnel are onsite to assess the derailment site and are working closely with local first responders."
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tweeted that the Federal Railroad Administration “is on the ground after a BNSF train carrying ethanol derailed early this morning, leading to an evacuation in the area of Raymond, MN."
“At present no injuries or fatalities have been reported," Buttigieg added. "We are tracking closely as more details emerge and will be involved in investigation."
The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook that "there have been no injuries as a result of the crash or emergency response."
Last year, more than 700 workers resigned from BNSF, union officials said, over an attendance policy that docks employees for taking time off for medical appointments or funerals.
This latest incident follows the derailment of two Norfolk Southern trains in Ohio.
Latest in Series of Derailments
On March 5, 28 cars went off the rails in Springfield. On Feb. 3, a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. It ignited a fire, which forced an evacuation, spewed poisonous fumes and killed thousands of fish.
The Federal Railroad Administration said on March 7 said it planned to conduct a 60-day supplemental safety assessment of Norfolk Southern Railway "following multiple safety incidents."
In a separate incident in Cleveland in early March, a Norfolk Southern conductor was killed when a truck collided with the first car of a train he was on.
"After a series of derailments and the death of one of its workers, we are initiating this further supplemental safety review of Norfolk Southern, while also calling on Norfolk Southern to act urgently to improve its focus on safety so the company can begin earning back the trust of the public and its employees,” Buttigieg said in a statement.
“This comes as USDOT continues its own urgent actions to further improve freight rail safety and accountability,” he added.
The agency said there were at least 1,164 train derailments across the country last year.
