West Virginia train derailment sends oil tanker into river

From:  AP

Flames and smoke rise in West Virginia, after a CSX train hauling crude oil derailed, Monday. Authorities say at least two cars were set ablaze and two nearby towns were evacuated, after a house caught fire because of the accident. One or two train cars plunged into the Kanawha River, around 33 miles southeast of Charleston.

MOUNT CARBON, W.Va. (AP) - A train carrying more than 100 tankers of crude oil derailed in southern West Virginia on Monday, sending at least one into the Kanawha River, igniting at least 14 tankers and sparking a house fire, officials said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries. Nearby residents were told to evacuate as a state emergency response and environmental officials headed to the scene about 30 miles southeast of Charleston.

The state was under a winter storm warning and getting heavy snowfall at times, with as much as 5 inches in some places. It's not clear if the weather had anything to do with the derailment, which occurred about 1:20 EST along a flat stretch of rail.  MORE