Casselton(North Dakota): Authorities urged residents to evacuate a small North Dakota town Monday night after a mile-long train carrying crude oil derailed outside of town, shaking residents with a series of explosions that sent flame and black smoke skyward.
The Cass County sheriff's office said it was strongly recommending that people in the town of Casselton and anyone living 5 miles (8 kilometres) to the south and east evacuate.
A shelter has been set up in Fargo, which is about 25 miles (40 kilometres) away.
Casselton has about 2,400 residents.
The sheriff's office said the National Weather Service was forecasting a shift in the weather that would push the plume of smoke down, which could increase the risk of potential health hazards to those who live nearby.
The BNSF Railway Company train left the tracks about 2:30 p.m. (2030 GMT) Monday, and as many as 10 cars caught fire. No one was hurt.
The cars were still burning as darkness fell, and authorities said they would be allowed to burn out.
Authorities hadn't yet been able to untangle exactly how the derailment happened, but a second train carrying grain was involved.
BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth said the train carrying grain derailed
first, then knocked several cars of the oil train off adjoining tracks.
Casselton's residents were told to stay indoors as soon as the explosions began.
North Dakota is the No. 2 oil-producing state in the U.S., trailing only Texas.
