Dozens of railcars derail in northern Minnesota, triggering evacuation

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(The Center Square) – A train derailment in northern Minnesota prompted an evacuation over the weekend after dozens of railcars, including some carrying hazardous materials, left the tracks near the Canadian border.

The Roseau County Sheriff’s Office said the incident occurred just before 5 a.m. on Saturday, when a Canadian National Railway train derailed north of Warroad, Minnesota. Officials reported that 42 railcars went off the tracks, including two classified as “dangerous goods” cars.

Authorities established an evacuation zone and urged residents in the area to leave as a precaution. Displaced residents were directed to shelter at a designated shelter location, and the public is still being warned to stay away from the crash site.

Emergency responders, including hazardous materials teams from International Falls and Grand Rapids, were deployed to the scene to monitor air quality and inspect the derailed cars for potential leaks.

“There are no environmental concerns at this time,” said a Sunday statement from the Roseau County Sheriff’s Office. That is the most-recent statement they have released.

Roads surrounding the crash site were also closed while crews worked to stabilize the area. Heavy equipment has been brought in to assist with efforts to upright the derailed railcars, and cleanup operations are expected to take several days.

Canadian National Railway said its crews completed track repairs and restored rail traffic by Saturday afternoon.

The cause of the derailment remains under investigation and officials have not yet released information on how many residents evacuated.

This incident follows a series of similar derailments in recent years, including a 2023 crash in Minnesota in which Canadian Pacific reported 24 railcars derailed, some carrying hazardous materials.

That incident, along with other high-profile rail accidents across the U.S. and Canada, has drawn increased scrutiny in recent years from lawmakers and regulators over rail safety and the transport of hazardous materials.

In response, several states have advanced legislation aimed at strengthening rail safety standards and oversight.