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Illinois train derailment prompts school evacuations

By Danielle Haynes

Sept. 10 (UPI) -- A fiery train derailment in southwestern Illinois prompted emergency officials to evacuate nearby schools as a precaution Tuesday.

Ten cars on the Union Pacific train left the tracks around 12:45 p.m. in Dupo, Ill., on the outskirts of St. Louis. A tank car containing a flammable liquid called methyl Isobutyl ketone caught fire, spreading to nearby cars and sending plumes of black smoke into the air.

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Union Pacific said the liquid is typically used as a solvent. The cars were at the company's train yard.

A Union Pacific spokeswoman told the Belleville News-Democrat there have been no injuries.

Dupo Mayor Jerry Wilson said a nearby high school and a grade school were evacuated, along with the Adams neighborhood.

"Ameren will be cutting power to the East Carondelet community soon. This is due to high tension lines over the fire," the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency said in a Facebook post.

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