Connecticut Residents Warned to Shelter in Place as Train Carrying Gas Derails
Those living in Mansfield, Connecticut, need to shelter in place. A freight train carrying flammable liquid gas derailed. About 2,5000 gallons of toxic liquid leaked out, creating an emergency situation. The cleanup process could take days.
Connecticut train carrying gas derails
Mansfield Town Manager Ryan Aylesworth shares that there is a Declaration of Emergency in Connecticut. It’s out of an abundance of caution, and residents in Connecticut need to shelter in place following a train derailment.
Route 32 between Route 44 North and North Eagleville Road and Route 275 are currently closed. Officials ask drivers to avoid the area and find alternative routes as a massive cleanup project is underway.
A train carrying propane derailed in the area. The train had 43 cars, and 13 of them detached. About 10 of them derailed, and nine rolled onto their sides. Firefighters shared that none of the propane leaked out.
However, one car leaked 2,500 gallons of food-grade grease into the environment. According to WTNH, residents should watch for updates as emergency crews monitor the situation. This includes air testing quality.
The conductor and an engineer were onboard at the time of the incident and immediately called 911. However, it’s unclear what caused the derailment. Officials don’t know where the locomotive was traveling to or from either.
The cause is under investigation by the CTDOT Office of the Rail. Road closures are expected to last through the end of the week. No injuries have been reported thus far, and crews are working as quickly as possible to clean impacted areas.
