Train derails in North Dakota causing new hazardous materials spill

A 70-car Canadian Pacific Railway freight train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed late Sunday night outside Wyndmere, N.D.

According to local media outlet KFGO, Richland County Emergency Manager Brett Lambrecht says that 31 of the train's cars derailed. Some of them were transporting hazardous materials and are leaking. Nevertheless, a Canadian Pacific spokesman said there was no threat to public safety, and no injuries or fires were reported.

Canadian Pacific Assistant Vice President of Communications Patrick Waldron said the incident occurred at about 11:15 p.m. Sunday. Emergency responders, including hazardous materials experts, are working at the scene this morning along with the Wyndmere fire marshal to assess the incident.

According to a report from local media outlet Valley News Live, it is estimated that it will take between seven and 10 days to clean up this new spill. This incident is the latest of more than a dozen railway accidents recorded in recent months, many of them resulting in public health hazards due to spills.