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Town evacuated after fiery train derailmentNo injuries reported in southern Illinois community
TAMAROA, Illinois (CNN) -- A southern Illinois town of about 900 people was evacuated Sunday after tanker cars carrying hazardous materials went off the tracks, with many of the train cars releasing their gaseous contents and catching fire, a law enforcement official said. No injuries are reported. About 16 tanker cars of the Canadian National Railway Co. derailed, and each contained one of three potentially deadly chemicals: vinyl chloride, formaldehyde and hydrochloric acid, Perry County Sheriff Keith Kellerman said. None of the cars tipped over. The derailment happened about 9 a.m. (10 a.m. EST) near the town 75 miles southeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Kellerman said he didn't know where the train was headed. "We still have a fire there, and we can't get too close because of the chemicals," Kellerman said. He said emergency release valves on several cars were activated, acting as vents to release pressure and prevent possible explosions. The substances can be deadly in large exposure. Vinyl chloride is a colorless, flammable gas used to make plastic products; formaldehyde is used as a preservative in medical laboratories, as an embalming fluid, and as a sterilizer; and hydrochloric acid, a colorless liquid or gas, has many industrial uses. The Environmental Protection Agency was among the federal and state agencies aiding the county on the scene.
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