Iowa train derailment sends cars plunging into river

A cargo train in Iowa has derailed after periods of heavy rain leaving the bridge underneath it demolished.

The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office released a statement on Facebook addressing the train derailment that happened in the city of Alton, north west of the state’s capital of Des Moines early Sunday morning.

“There are no reported injuries,” the sheriff’s office said. “No known hazardous materials have been leaked into the river or air.” The train crossing the Floyd River was carrying industrial sand and soybean oil.

Aerial video posted by the sheriff’s office shows a cluster of multiple damaged cars sitting in the river.

Alton City Administrator Dale Oltmans told the Des Moines Register that the bridge over the river is “gone”, saying it was “laying in pieces underneath the train”.

Justin E. Jacobs, a spokesman for the train company, the Union Pacific, told The Independent that the derailment happened at around 4am Sunday and that out of the 95 cars on the train, the company estimates that approximately 37 rail cars were derailed.

Mr Jacobs added that the number of cars in the Floyd River was initially undetermined but that it is estimated that number could be around 20.

“Union Pacific’s emergency response team is on site and working with local authorities to address the situation," he said. “The cause of the incident has not been determined, but recent flooding may have been a factor.”

The Independent has reached out to the City of Alton for comment.

The National Weather Service shows the Floyd River at Alton was just above flood stage at 13 feet in the early hours of Sunday morning. Days prior, officials reported the river at a major flood stage reaching 21 feet.

City officials have asked residents to avoid the area until further notice.