West Virginia train derailment sends oil tanker into river
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Emergency crews and environmental officials are responding to a train derailment in West Virginia that sent at least one tanker containing crude oil into a river and also caused a nearby house to catch fire.
A fire burns Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, after a train derailment near Charleston, W.Va. Nearby residents were told to evacuate as state emergency response and environmental officials headed to the scene. (AP Photo/The Register-Herald, Steve Keenan)
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
The CSX train derailed Monday afternoon in Fayette County.
West Virginia Public Safety spokesman Lawrence Messina said the tanker is leaking crude oil into the Kanawha River.
Messina said at least one and possibly more tanker cars went into the river. He also said the derailment caused a house to catch fire.
The U.S. Transportation Department is weighing tougher safety regulations for rail shipments of crude, which can ignite and result in huge fireballs.
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