Union Pacific Train Derails Near Sibley – Hundreds Of People Are Evacuated (Updated)

(Sibley) — Union Pacific railroad officials have released an update regarding the train derailment that happened Sunday afternoon near Sibley. Union Pacific spokesperson, Robynn Tysver says U-P crews worked with first responders through the night, and are now preparing a plan to fight the fire and begin the recovery effort to remove all rail cars following the
derailment. Officials now say the train was hauling hydrochloric acid, potassium hydroxide and asphalt. Union Pacific Haz-Mat team has been on the scene all night and deployed a boom into Otter Creek. The voluntary evacuation order remains in effect, as ordered by the Osceola County Emergency Management officials. Only a small portion of Sibley has an evacuation order in place. There were no injuries to the train crew, and the cause remains
under investigation, which contributed to the 47-rail cars to leave the tracks. The derailment happened at about 2:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon, causing an explosion and the evacuation of hundreds of people. Thick black smoke along with flames shooting up several feet in the air could be seen for miles, as officials
believe at least two tankers filled with diesel fuel ignited as a result of the train accident. Officials made the decision to allow the tankers to burn themselves out, and to re-evaluate the situation earlier this morning.

 

 

Sibley City Administrator Comments On Evacuation Of Residents

(Sibley) — KLEM news visited with Sibley’s City Administrator, Glen Anderson to get the latest update regarding the train derailment situation. We asked Anderson if the residents of Sibley have been allowed to return to their homes following Sunday’s evacuation.

Anderson says Union Pacific officials are not certain of the timeline in which the rail company will be able to complete its clean up following the Sunday’s derailment.

Those are comments from Glen Anderson, the city administrator for the town of Sibley.

 

 

(Sibley) — A Union Pacific train derailed in northwest Iowa near Sibley, along Highway 60 Sunday afternoon, causing an explosion, and the evacuation of hundreds of people. Union Pacific spokesperson Robynn Tysver says the train derailed at around 2:00 p.m. when a bridge collapsed. Approximately 47 rail cars went off the tracks. There were no injuries to the crew members, and Union Pacific is working with local first responders at the the scene.
Sibley Fire Chief Ken Huls says the train was hauling the highly explosive fertilizer ammonium nitrate. Osceola County Emergency Management issued an evacuation order for residents and businesses in Sibley located to the west of Old Highway 60. Sibley residents who stayed in their homes were advised
to open windows and shelter in the middle of the house in case one of the rail cars exploded.
Multiple fire departments from surrounding communities responded to the scene. Thick black smoke along with flames shooting up several feet in the air could be seen for miles, as officials believe at least two tankers filled with diesel fuel ignited as a result of the train accident.
Officials made the decision to allow the tankers to burn themselves out, and to re-evaluate the situation on Monday. The cause of the derailment is under investigation. The Le Mars Fire Department was asked to respond to the derailment with its “foam trailer” which is used to pump foam as a fire
extinguishing agent on large-scale fires.

For aerial video of the train derailment click on the link http://www.facebook.com/216001073/posts/995347545541/

(photo courtesy of the Le Mars Fire Department.)