[ad_1]
A freight train derailed in rural NSW early this morning and has spilt 8000 litres of hazardous materials into a paddock.
A spokesperson for the NSW Rural Fire Service told news.com.au personnel and hazmat specialists have been sent to the area, and will be providing assistance over the following days. Members of the SES have also been deployed to the area, which is being affected by flooding.
Fire and Rescue NSW said in a statement half of the 1500m train derailed about 2.15am on Thursday morning.
“One of these locomotives has leaked up to 8000 litres of diesel and 16 carriages have jackknifed, four of which are in floodwater,” Fire and Rescue NSW said in a statement.
One of the locomotives is now in a paddock and two others are now upright, the statement said.
RELATED: Weather danger warning for NSW
RELATED: How animals will be saved from fires
“The train was carrying dangerous goods and specialist crews from Sydney and Newcastle have been deployed to the incident,” the statement said.
“A small fire occurred in one of the carriages however this was extinguished by the train driver.”
The driver of the train was later safely removed from the train and assessed by NSW Ambulance crews.
NSW Fire and Rescue warned because of flooding in the areas the incident will be “ongoing over a number of days”.
NSW Police and the NSW Environmental Protection Agency are also at the scene.
The Nana Glen RFS urged locals to avoid the area, and said rescue crews were being hampered by flooding in the area.
Hilltop Farm in Nana Glen, west of Coffs Harbour, said the train derailed into their property during the night.
The farmer owners said in a post on Facebook the train driver and horses on their property weren’t injured in the derailment, but said the clean-up effort was being hampered by flooding.
“We have had a freight train derailment onto our property during the night but all horses and train driver are OK.
“The situation is not made easy seeing as we are also flooded in.”
[ad_2]
Source link
