Freight train carrying hazardous material derails in Arizona

The train derailed on Wednesday evening near the town of Topock, according to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office.

Freight train carrying hazardous material derails in Arizona, 20 miles north of Lake Havasu City Getty Images

A freight train carrying hazardous materials has derailed in western Arizona, near the state’s border with California and Nevada, an official said.

The train derailed on Wednesday evening near the town of Topock, according to Anita Mortensen, a spokeswoman for Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, who said she was not aware of any spills or leaks.

No injuries have been reported.

The derailment came amid heightened attention to rail safety nationwide after a fiery derailment last month in Ohio.

The Arizona derailment occurred near Interstate 40 in a rural, non-residential area about 20 miles north of Lake Havasu City.

Ms Mortensen said she had no details about how many carriages were in the train, or what materials it had been carrying when it derailed.

The sheriff’s office notified the National Transportation Safety Board and the railroad company BNSF.

Last month, a freight train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border, igniting a fire and causing hundreds of people to be evacuated.

Officials seeking to avoid an uncontrolled blast intentionally released and burned toxic vinyl chloride from five rail carriages, sending flames and black smoke high into the sky.

That left people questioning the potential health impacts even as authorities maintained they were doing their best to protect people.

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