1 killed after train derails, leaks ammonia

MINOT, North Dakota (CNN) -- A train derailed just outside Minot, North Dakota, Friday and leaked a noxious chemical blamed for killing one man and sending dozens of others to the hospital, police said.

Houses in a suburban residential area called Tarracito Vallejo near the wreck were evacuated.

Triage areas were set up at Edison elementary school and at Minot Air Force Base, said Lt. Douglas Lockrem of Minot police.

At Trinity Medical Center, spokesman Randy Schwan said 61 patients had come to the emergency room, and 13 were admitted, six of them to the intensive care unit, where some of them were on ventilators.

Patients complained of a variety of symptoms, including respiratory distress, tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, and burning sensations in the throat, lungs and eyes.

Depending on the intensity of the exposure, the chemical -- anhydrous ammonia -- can cause rapid dehydration, he said.

Treatment includes giving the patient fluids and "hydrating the area with water."

The hospital has contacted other area hospitals to help in case they become overwhelmed. "We expect we may be getting more patients," he said.

A sheriff's deputy and a police officer who had difficulty breathing were among those hospitalized, said Maj. John Glibota, of the Ward County Sheriff's Department.

The deputy had driven near the wreck when his car got stuck as it filled with ammonia gas. "He kept calling for help," said Sheriff Erck. After about an hour, a truck equipped with safety gear pulled him to safety.

The Canadian Pacific Railroad train contained five tanker cars carrying anhydrous ammonia, Glibota said.

Hazardous materials teams from Canadian Pacific were working with local crews to assess how to contain the gas, he said.

The Minnesota Army National Guard sent a team of specially trained hazardous materials personnel -- the Minnesota National Guard's 55th Civil Support Team, to assist local emergency authorities.

Schools and the county courthouse were closed.

"We're recommending people stay indoors," Glibota said.

The derailment occurred around 1:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m. EST), two miles west of Minot, which is in a valley. Soon, the concentrated farm fertilizer ingredient -- which is heavier than air -- drifted into town, and remained there.

Emergency sirens and local television and radio stations alerted the 58,000 residents of Minot and surrounding Ward county.

None of the city residents has been evacuated, but they have been urged to take other precautions: stay inside and turn off furnaces, despite below freezing weather, he said.

"We also asked them to check their doors and windows and make sure they're securely closed and put towels around any area where air could come in."

They were also urged to breathe through a towel.

"We had every available policeman, fireman and police reserves that were available -- sprang to duty," Lockrem said.

Anhydrous ammonia is particularly noxious.

"It sucks the water right out of your system," Lockrem said. "If your skin comes in contact, it causes a chemical burn. It freezes clothing to the body and sucks the moisture right out of your eyes, breathing system, bronchial tubes, anything that's moist. It goes directly to those areas."

By mid-morning the cloud was dissipating, but residents were urged to remain inside for at least several more hours.