Shelter-in-place notice issued at site of North Dakota train derailment

In North Dakota, officials at the site of a derailed train carrying hazardous materials issued a brief shelter-in-place notice on Sunday. The notice was a precautionary measure after low levels of anhydrous ammonia were detected when a railcar began venting during cleanup efforts. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the leak, and the notice was lifted once air monitoring levels returned to normal. The derailment occurred early Friday, knocking 29 cars off the tracks in a rural area about 140 miles northwest of Fargo. Anhydrous ammonia exposure can lead to severe health issues, including eye, nose, throat, and respiratory tract irritation, blindness, lung damage, or even death. Despite the potential dangers, no injuries were reported from the incident. The fire sparked by the derailment was mostly extinguished by Sunday, but concerns remained due to the train carrying anhydrous ammonia, methanol, and plastic pellets. Cleanup efforts focused on removing these hazardous materials and the derailed cars from the scene. Authorities, including the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Railroad Administration, have been investigating the cause of the derailment since Saturday. The remote location of the incident added complexity to the cleanup and investigation process. Residents in the area were advised to stay indoors briefly as a safety measure, highlighting the importance of swift and coordinated emergency response efforts in handling such incidents involving hazardous materials.