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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Liam Buckler & Vassia Barba

Three-car train falls into Mississippi River with reports of multiple people injured

A train derailed and fell into the Mississippi River - with multiple people reportedly injured.

Emergency crews have scrambled to the scene in De Soto, Mississippi, after three running engines reportedly fell in the water, with up to 15 other cars derailed.

In addition, there are at least two cars floating in the water with some of them reportedly containing lithium batteries and paint.

There are said to be multiple injuries - with boats being used to collect the casualties, according to local reports.

One eyewitness told CNN she was on her way to school when she saw the derailed train.

Nolan said: “I didn’t see a fire or smell anything but witnessed multiple cars in the water on both sides of the tracks. There hadn’t been any emergency help until after I had passed by."

The derailment happened in the south of Highway 82, which begins on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River near Lansing, Iowa.

One of the train carriages in the water (SilentVesper - Twitter)

The train left its tracks along the highway's next junction across the bridge at Wisconsin Highway 35.

Several ambulances have rushed to the location to provide medical assistance.

A witness reported seeing the wreckage of what appears to be cargo boxes strewn along the railway, according to News8000.

Republican Derrick Van Orden, who sits on the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, confirmed emergency services are being sent to the site.

He said: "My staff was just made aware of a train derailment in our District south of the Lansing Bridge in Ferryville.

"We have begun to coordinate with BNSF, FEMA, Wisconsin Emergency Management, the state and national Departments of Transportation, Crawford County officials, and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-2), whose District may also be impacted, to get answers on what occurred.

"My staff is traveling to the site, and Congressman Troy Nehls (TX-22), who Chairs the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Rail, has also made staff available to assist our team. We will continue to monitor the situation and determine next steps."

According to a spokesperson with the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office in Iowa, the Black Hawk Bridge that connects Lansing, Iowa, to western Wisconsin is currently down.

The Crawford County Sherriff’s Department said the derailment is an “ongoing situation.”

It comes just months after a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed sending up a toxic plume on February 3 in East Palestine, Ohio, US.

The US Environmental Protection Agency confirmed the presence of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate, and isobutylene in the 50 rail cars that were involved in the derailment.

Residents from nearby neighbourhoods in Ohio and Pennsylvania were evacuated because of health risks from the fumes, but have since been allowed to return.

We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.

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