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1 of 3 | A awesome interstate remained closed Saturday and dozens of properties were nether removal orders aft a freight train derailment successful New Mexico, adjacent nan authorities statement pinch Arizona. Photo courtesy of Apache County Sheriff's Office
April 27 (UPI) -- A awesome interstate road remained closed Saturday and dozens of properties were nether removal orders aft a freight train derailment successful New Mexico, adjacent nan authorities statement pinch Arizona.
The train's cars were carrying gasoline and propane erstwhile it derailed astir 11:45 a.m. section clip Friday morning.
The mishap occurred astir 13 miles westbound of Gallup, N.M., closing Interstate 40 to westbound traffic, nan state's section of proscription confirmed successful a Facebook post.
Authorities besides said nan tract is being treated arsenic a hazardous materials response, contributing to nan section removal orders.
The train was operated by BNSF Railway, according to nan Apache County Sheriff's Office. The Arizona Department of Public Safety later confirmed BNSF's ownership.
The Texas-based operator is nan largest freight railway successful nan United States.
Officials person not speculated connected what caused nan derailment not acold from nan interstate, sending massive flames and plumes of achromatic smoke soaring into nan entity that could beryllium seen for miles.
"The train derailment connected nan Arizona-New Mexico authorities statement is incredibly concerning, and I americium intimately monitoring nan situation," Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said successful a statement.
"I americium successful connection pinch Transportation Secretary [Pete] Buttigieg, who relayed that nan national authorities will do what it tin to deploy nan basal resources and unit to incorporate nan derailment and immoderate imaginable contamination," he added.
"As we stitchery much accusation connected nan severity of nan derailment, I guidelines fresh to activity pinch our authorities partners, national counterparts, and each Arizonans."
Buttigieg said national authorities are launching an investigation.
"FRA [Federal Railroad Administration] investigators are responding to a derailment adjacent nan Arizona-New Mexico border. We are coordinating crossed state, tribal, and section agencies to guarantee information successful nan region. Please travel authorities and section guidance for detour accusation astir I-40," Buttigieg said successful a statement.
Friday's derailment comes conscionable complete a period aft different BNSF train came disconnected nan rails, spilling millions of pounds of maize adjacent Socorro, N.M.
Earlier successful nan week, BNSF reached an statement with its unionized train dispatchers, allowing labor to "report unsafe events confidentially while being protected from BNSF disciplinary action and FRA enforcement."
