Approximately 5:05 am a Union Pacific train derailed and struck a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train causing a release from a 90-ton chlorine tanker car. The site is SW of San Antonio in Macdona, Bexar County, Texas.
Wreckage is blocking the only access road to the adjacent residents.
Initial reports include an evacuation for the Del Rio Subdivision in Macdona, with a shelter-in-place in the surrounding area for those unable to evacuate. The release is ongoing.
EPA Region 6 Regional Response Center is activated and currently providing support to the response FOSCs and START contractors. Currently START is in the Unified Command and 3 START are monitoring for the release. USEPA has charted a plane to expedite FOSCs Harris and Leos with five additional STARTs to provide air monitoring and to establish a perimeter of the plume with AreaRaes. EPA has deployed the ASPECT Plane to respond to the scene and to assist in plume modeling and high resolution photodocumentation. EPA has requested the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Strike Team to assist in the response.
Initial reports established that San Antonio FD HazMat has responded. Personnel are reportedly being affected by heat and exertion. Operational effectiveness may be a concern. Union Pacific Railroad representatives are making entry and trying to establish the extent of the damage to the railcar.
Enry teams are forced to travel approximately 3/4 mile through the crash site to the trapped residents. Heat stress, safety and air supply are major concerns.
Entry teams will attempt to plug the damaged car.
Rescue of some residents by chopper is underway.
Body recovery for initial victims.
Heat
Travel distance for entry teams
Safety
Rescue of trapped residents
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