A fuel-laden freight train derailed and burst into flames on Friday near the state line between Arizona and New Mexico, resulting in the shutdown of a crucial trucking route, an interstate highway.
According to a public information officer for the New Mexico State Police, the fire was still burning as of Saturday morning, CBS News reported.
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Officials have reported that approximately 35 cars carrying “mixed freight” derailed on Saturday. Out of those, six cars were found to be carrying propane.
Videos and photos of crumpled train cars and billowing black smoke were shared on social media by initial passersby.
There were no reported injuries in the train accident that occurred near Lupton, Arizona during midday. Lena Kent, spokesperson for BNSF Railway, stated that their personnel were present at the scene to remove the wreckage. Kent also mentioned that the cause of the derailment is currently being investigated.
Authorities closed Interstate 40 in both directions in the area during the early afternoon, diverting trucks and motorists onto alternate routes, as announced by New Mexico State Police and the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
As a precautionary measure, nearby residents and a truck stop were evacuated due to the thick smoke being carried away by the winds. Local firefighting crews promptly responded to the incident. In addition, Amtrak had to cancel certain passenger travel, including the route between Los Angeles and Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Officials confirmed on Saturday that air monitoring and fire suppression assessments are currently in progress.
According to Kristine Bustos-Mihelcic, a spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Transportation, traffic on I-40 caused significant delays, stretching for over 10 miles. However, in an effort to alleviate the congestion, detours were implemented on two-lane roads and highways. The agency also issued a warning on Friday evening, stating that the closure of the highway would result in increased traffic on other interstate highways such as I-25 and I-10.
The National Transportation Security Board has announced that it will be dispatching a team to thoroughly investigate the incident.
