An evacuation order remained in place Monday for part of a northwest Iowa town as firefighters worked to extinguish a burning train after a weekend derailment.

About 47 cars derailed Sunday afternoon near Sibley, including several cars that were carrying hazardous materials. The resulting fire created a thick plume of black smoke but no injuries were reported.

Sibley is a town of about 3,000 people roughly 200 miles (322 kilometers) northwest of Des Moines. The west end of the town was evacuated after the derailment.

Union Pacific spokeswoman Robynn Tysver said the railroad's hazardous materials experts worked with first responders through the night to contain the blaze.

Tysver said several cars involved in the derailment were carrying hydrochloric acid, potassium hydroxide and asphalt. An empty tank car on the train had been carrying liquid ammonia nitrate.

The railroad said the cause of the derailment remains under investigation, but witnesses reported that a bridge had collapsed underneath the train.

Robin Eggink told the Des Moines Register that she and her husband noticed the train slowing down followed by a big cloud of smoke as they were eating at a Pizza Hut outside of Sibley on Sunday. The family drove near the site of the smoke and saw the train split in two on both sides of a bridge that had collapsed before firefighters ordered them out of the area, Eggink said.

Share:
More In Culture
2022 World Inequality Report Takes Closer Look at Global Wealth Inequity
The World Inequality Lab just released its inequality report, which looks at wealth and income inequality, gender inequality, and carbon emission inequality around the world. It is also the first global assessment of wealth and income inequality since the start of the pandemic. Matthew Post-Fisher, a coordinator with the World Inequality Lab and a research fellow at Harvard Kennedy school joins Cheddar News to discuss the findings.
Instagram CEO Testifies in Front of Congress Over Teen Safety
Instagram Chief Executive Adam Mosseri is set to testify before Congress for the first time. Mosseri’s appearance follows reports that showed Facebook and Instagram are aware of the harms their apps and services cause, including to teen mental health. Nicole Gill, co-founder and executive director of Accountable Tech joins Cheddar News to preview the hearing.
Hosea Chanchez Talks 'The Game' Reboot, Black Men's Mental Wellness
Actor Hosea Chanchez joined Cheddar Wellness to discuss reprising his role in the Paramount+ reboot of the hit series "The Game '' and about the importance of mental wellness for Black men, identifying similarities between himself and the character he plays, Malik Wright. He noted that the role allowed him to submerge himself in the culture of athletes and let him explore and depict subjects that often go undiscussed in the Black community to draw attention to their relevance.
Key Drivers of Workplace Happiness
According to an Indeed survey, 77% of job seekers say work happiness is important when considering a future employer. Misty Gaither, Senior Director, Global Head of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, Indeed, joins Cheddar Wellness to discuss the importance of overall workplace happiness and how employees and employers can work towards that goal.
Brick-And-Mortar Boom Comes As Retail E-Commerce Becomes More Reliant on Physical Stores
The U.S. has seen several retailers across the country forced to close their brick-and-mortar stores amid the rise of e-commerce over the past few years. However, we are in the midst of a brick-and-mortar boom, with retailers expected to open more stores this year than they close, for the first time since 2017, according to an analysis of more than 900 chains by IHL Group, a research and advisory company. At the same time, the e-commerce businesses of retailers have become more dependent on physical stores to fulfill orders, especially during the holiday shopping season. Lionesque Group CEO Melissa Gonzalez joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Load More