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* A UNION PACIFIC TRAIN IN DUPO, ILLINOIS DERAILED AROUND 12.45PM ON TUESDAY * AT LEAST 16 TRAIN CARS DERAILED THEN A MASSIVE FIRE BROKE OUT * HARROWING VIDEO FROM THE SCENE SHOW PLUMES OF
BLACK SMOKE RISING FROM THE TRACKS AND STRETCHING FOR MILES * DUPO POLICE ANNOUNCED EVACUATIONS FOR THE AREA AROUND 1.15PM AND SEVERAL HOMES IN THE AREA WERE CLEARED * UNION PACIFIC
RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THE THE TRAIN WAS BEING BUILT FOR DEPARTURE WHEN IT DERAILED AT THE RAIL YARD * THE DERAILMENT CAUSED A TANK CONTAINING A FLAMMABLE LIQUID CALLED METHYL ISOBUTYL
KETONE - A SOLVENT FOR MANUFACTURING PAINTS AND CHEMICALS - TO CATCH FIRE * AUTHORITIES SAID THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY INJURIES AT THE MOMENT By MARLENE LENTHANG FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
Published: 14:32 EDT, 10 September 2019 | Updated: 16:37 EDT, 10 September 2019 A massive fire is raging fury in southern Illinois after a freight train derailed and a tank holding a
flammable liquid erupted in flames on Tuesday. A Union Pacific train in St. Clair County, Illinois suddenly derailed in a rail yard around 12.45pm. Shocking photos from derailment and blaze
show at least 16 train cars off the tracks, some of them toppled over and charred in the flames. St. Clair County Emergency Management said they received a call just after 12:30 p.m and
are currently on the scene at the 2400 block of Carondelet Avenue. Union Pacific says there are no injures reported at the moment. Firefighters are on the scene tackling the raging
flames. One witness said heard a loud bang and then saw a fireball go up at the rail yard in the Tuesday afternoon incident, according to KMOV4. Dupo Police announced evacuations for the
area around 1.15pm and several homes in the area were cleared, according to WVTM. Locals in the Adams subdivision were ordered to evacuate and sent to the East Carondelet Community Center.
Schools in the Dupo School District were also evacuated and students and staff were transported to Columbia High School. Authorities said they are not aware of any injuries at the moment.
Union Pacific told DailyMail.com in a statement that a tank carrying a flammable chemical car caught fire, sparking the roaring blaze. 'Around 12:45 p.m., a derailment occurred in
Union Pacific's Dupo Yard near Carondelet Avenue between Main and Adams Road. Both crossings are closed. The train was being built for departure at the time of the derailment, which
caused a tank car to catch fire. 'Initial information from the scene indicates that the tank car contains a flammable liquid called methyl isobutyl ketone. It is typically used as a
solvent. 'Union Pacific is working with area first responders to put out the fire. Our yard and nearby intermodal ramp were safely evacuated. At this time, no injuries have been
reported,' the statement added. Methyl isobutly ketone is a solvent for manufacturing paints, rubbers, pharmaceuticals, other chemicals, and industrial cleaners. It's highly
flammable and can cause explosions. Prolonged contact to the chemical can result in a skin rash, dryness and redness. It could also damage the liver and kidneys. Harrowing videos from the
scene show plumes of black smoke rising from the tracks visible for miles. Smoke from the horror derailment and fire is visible from downtown St. Louis, which is about a 15-minute drive
from Dupo, Illinois where the blaze broke out. This is a developing story. Breaking News