A train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in Maryville, Tennessee, on Wednesday night, forcing the evacuation of thousands of local residents living within a 1-mile radius of the crash site.
The train derailment occurred Wednesday at 11:50 p.m. ET, and caused toxic substances aboard the train to catch fire. As of Thursday morning, the fire was still burning.
Around 5,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes. The Blount County Sheriff's Office said the evacuation could last from 24 to 48 hours. A Red Cross Shelter was set up at a local high school for those who are displaced.
NEW: @ChattFireDept , hospitals and EMS sending antidotes for cyanide poisoning to Blount Co where train derailed.— Drew Bollea (@Drew_BolleaNC9) July 2, 2015
According to CSX, the company that owns the train, it was traveling from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Waycross, Georgia. CSX said one car derailed, and caught on fire.
The train has two locomotives and 57 cars, including 45 loaded cars and 12 empty cars. Local reports suggested that firefighters are letting the chemicals burn off, rather than fighting the flames.
Blount train fire. @knoxnews @KNSWatchfulEye pic.twitter.com/8genenB5Vy— Michael Patrick (@michaelpix) July 2, 2015
One of the chemicals on board the train was acrylonitrile. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), acrylonitrile is a "probable human carcinogen." The chemical is typically used in the manufacture of acrylic acid and modacrylic fibers.
"Acute (short-term) exposure of workers to acrylonitrile has been observed to cause mucous membrane irritation, headaches, dizziness and nausea. No information is available on the reproductive or developmental effects of acrylonitrile in humans," the EPA said.
The cars carrying acrylonitrile are located on either side of the burning rail car, and no crude oil is among the rail cars. However, 27 of the train's cars are packed with hazardous materials, according to CSX.
Several nearby residents said they weren't aware of the train derailment until they received a call, or someone knocked on their door early in the morning.
"We saw police going back and forth, and emergency vehicles going back and forth on our road, but we didn't know why until about 3 to 3:30," Maryville resident John Trull said. "That's when they told us. We didn't hear anything [beforehand]. We just saw some emergency vehicles go by and kind of wondered what was going on, and that's about it."
Trull added that he heard news of the derailment from a sheriff's deputy who knocked on his door: "He just knocked on our door and told us there'd been an issue with one of the trains and they were evacuating the area."
Additional information from The Associated Press