In a dramatic series of events, five tornadoes tore through the Dakotas, resulting in strong winds that derailed 43 train cars in North Dakota. The incident occurred on Wednesday when a BNSF Railway train had stopped due to a tornado warning. High winds from one of the tornadoes caused the empty train cars to topple off the tracks.
Kendall Sloan, a spokesperson for BNSF Railway, confirmed that no one was injured in the derailment and that the train was not carrying any hazardous materials at the time. The derailment took place near Steele, North Dakota, where the National Weather Service (NWS) reported a tornado touchdown around 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Earlier that evening, another tornado was confirmed near Selfridge, North Dakota.
The NWS also detected three potential tornadoes in north-central South Dakota later that night. While survey crews are still assessing the extent of the damage in both states, initial reports indicate significant disruption, particularly in the areas surrounding the derailment.
Cleanup operations began early Thursday morning, but there is currently no timeline for when the efforts will be completed. The situation has prompted concerns about the impact of such severe weather on transportation and infrastructure, especially in rural areas.
As North Dakota residents grapple with the aftermath of these powerful storms, officials are working to restore normalcy and assess any further risks posed by the ongoing severe weather.
