Train derails and burns in Minnesota

A train derailed in the town of Raymond, Minn., during Thursday’s early morning hours. The train was being operated by Burlington Northern Santa Fe, or BNSF, Railway and was reportedly transporting ethanol and corn syrup. Several rail cars caught on fire following the crash after the ethanol leaked, according to a BNSF spokesperson. Residents within a half-mile radius of the crash were evacuated from their homes. No injuries linked to the derailment have been reported.

What caused the derailment? The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and a team from the National Transportation Safety Board was scheduled to arrive at the site Thursday afternoon. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and state emergency management officials will also travel to Raymond. The incident is the latest in a series of derailments across the country that have drawn attention to national rail safety standards. 

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report from East Palestine, Ohio, about how residents responded to the train derailment there.