Five tornadoes ripped through the Dakotas on Wednesday, causing 43 train cars to derail in North Dakota due to high winds. The BNSF Railway train, which had stopped in response to a tornado warning, was struck by the powerful storm, leading to the derailment.
Kendall Sloan, a spokesperson for BNSF Railway, confirmed that there were no injuries and that the train was not carrying hazardous materials at the time of the incident. The derailment occurred near Steele, North Dakota, where the National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed a tornado touchdown at around 8:00 p.m. Another tornado was reported earlier near Selfridge, North Dakota, at 5:40 p.m.
The NWS also detected three potential tornadoes in north-central South Dakota later that evening. Survey crews are still working to determine the full extent of the damage caused by the storms.
Cleanup efforts began early Thursday morning, with crews working to clear the derailed train cars. There is currently no timeline for when the cleanup will be completed, as the damage is still being assessed.
The incident highlights the significant impact that severe weather can have on transportation infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. North Dakota officials are continuing to monitor the situation and work towards restoring normalcy in the affected regions.
