Officials shut down drinking water intakes downstream after train cars carrying asphalt and sulfur submerged in Yellowstone River, the Guardian reports.
In the early hours of June 24, a bridge spanning the Yellowstone River in Montana collapsed, resulting in portions of a freight train plummeting into the flooded river below. The train was carrying hazardous materials, including hot asphalt and molten sulfur, raising concerns about potential environmental and public health risks. Authorities immediately shut down drinking water intakes downstream as a precautionary measure.
David Stamey, Stillwater County's chief of emergency services, confirmed the nature of the hazardous cargo. An Associated Press reporter on the scene witnessed a yellow liquid pouring out of the submerged tank cars. Fortunately, Stamey reassured the public that there was no immediate danger to the crews working at the site, as the hazardous material was being diluted by the swollen river.
Andy Garland, spokesman for the Montana Rail Link stated that the train crew escaped unharmed, and no injuries were reported as a result of the bridge collapse. Several tank cars were partially submerged in the river, prompting railroad crews to respond swiftly to the incident in Stillwater County, near the town of Columbus, approximately 40 miles (64 km) west of Billings.
Garland emphasized their commitment to addressing any potential impacts on the area and investigating the cause of the accident. Meanwhile, neighboring Yellowstone County officials implemented emergency measures at water treatment plants due to concerns of a "potential hazmat spill" and urged residents to conserve water as a precautionary measure.
The cause of the bridge collapse is currently under investigation. While recent heavy rains had caused the Yellowstone River to swell, it remains uncertain whether this played a role in the incident. The site of the incident is located in a sparsely populated area in the Yellowstone River valley, approximately 110 miles (177 km) northeast of Yellowstone National Park.
The Montana Disaster Emergency Services and officials from the Federal Railroad Administration were notified and present at the scene. Kelly Hitchcock of the Columbus Water Users took action by shutting off the flow of river water into an irrigation ditch downstream from the collapsed bridge, preventing any potential contamination from reaching nearby farmland.
The Yellowstone River experienced record flooding in 2022, causing significant damage to Yellowstone National Park and adjacent towns in Montana. Robert Bea, a retired engineering professor from the University of California Berkeley who has analyzed numerous major disasters, indicated that the repeated flooding may provide insight into the potential cause of the collapse.
“The high water flow translates to high forces acting directly on the pier and, importantly, on the river bottom,” Bea said. “You can have erosion or scour that removes support from the foundation. High forces translate to a high likelihood of a structural or foundation failure that could act as a trigger to initiate the accident,” Bea stated.
Bea additionally noted that the Investigators will also examine the bridge components for signs of wear, rust, and the maintenance, repair, and inspection history.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stressed that sulfur, one of the hazardous materials involved, is commonly used as a fertilizer, insecticide, fungicide, and rodenticide.
As the investigation unfolds, local authorities and agencies are working diligently to mitigate any potential risks and ensure the safety of the surrounding communities and the river ecosystem.
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