A train carrying thousands of gallons of propane has derailed in Florida’s Manatee County, according to reports.
According to local authorities, five train cars loaded with sheet rock and one tanker loaded with 30,000 gallons of propane ended up on their sides.
The derailment also caused a second propane tanker to leave the tracks but it remained upright.
The incident occurred on Tuesday near the Sarasota-Manatee County line.
Multiple authorities and hazmat crews were deployed to the scene of the wreck.
Aerial footage shows the derailed tankers on their sides near the mangled train tracks.
WATCH:
🚨#BREAKING: Train carrying thousands of gallons of propane tank derails⁰⁰📌#ManateeCounty | #Florida
Currently Multiple authorities including Hazmat Crews are responding to a train derailment in Manatee county Florida. One of the tankers is carrying over 30,000 gallons of… pic.twitter.com/pOulxq9rmN
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) February 28, 2023
Officials will have to transfer the propane from the tankers involved in the derailment.
The process could reportedly take one to three days to complete.
According to county officials, the incident happened Tuesday morning near the 7200 block of 16th Street East.
Emergency crews are on the scene of a train derailment involving five railcars and two propane tankers in the 7200 block of 16th Street East (near Tallevast Road). No injuries nor leakage have been reported: https://t.co/BzYmMFGUfR#TrainDerailment pic.twitter.com/mYfc33SDlj
— Manatee County Government (@ManateeGov) February 28, 2023
In a statement, Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge praised the handling of the wreck by first responders.
“We are proud of our first responders,” Ostenbridge said.
“Their quick action has helped maintain the safety and security of our citizens.”
Manatee County officials have not reported any leaks as a result of the derailment nor any injuries.
However, hazmat crews are still monitoring the situation.
South Manatee County Fire Rescue Chief Robert Bounds said:
We have drones.
We run the hazmat team for the county of Manatee and we were in the air with our drone which has thermal capabilities.
We were able to look at the tank and ascertain the levels of the tank from the outside, it’ll show up different colors if anything is actually leaking.
There are no leaks.
There are no actual physical damage to the tank other than the rollover, but there is no significant damage to it.
Local officials have not issued any evacuations, road closures, or shelter-in-place orders.
🚨#UPDATE: New photos shows a closer view of the train derailment that took place in Manatee county Florida as one of the tankers was carrying over 30,000 gallons of propane. The exact cause on how it derailed is currently under investigation says officials pic.twitter.com/jw8saTSUik
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) February 28, 2023
However, Bounds said his team discovered a homeless camp on the other side of the train tracks.
Some officials have been dispatched to the camp “to address the people out there and to address the potential danger.”
“We aren’t sure how many people,” Bounds said.
“We couldn’t visualize that from the air.
“We did send MSO and some other teams down there to address the people out there and to address the potential danger, and we will monitor them as well in the event we have to evacuate.”
Manatee County spokesman Bill Logan also warned businesses in the surrounding area they may have to evacuate if conditions change.
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