Ohio train derailment causes massive fire in East Palestine

A train derailed near the border of Ohio and Pennsylvania on Friday night, causing a massive fire in the area, local media reported.

Multiple train cars can be seen on fire in images posted on social media from East Palestine, a town northwest of Pittsburgh. Smoke can be seen rising from the blaze and filling the atmosphere.

Emergency crews had been evacuating residents from their homes within a mile of the fire, according to several media reports.

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties. The East Palestine police department did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for details.

Norfolk Southern Corp freight railroad was “coordinating closely with local first responders while mobilizing our own teams,” a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

The person did not immediately respond to queries about what the train was carrying or what caused the derailment.