Derailment Spews Toxic Gas; 91 Treated

Three railroad tank cars containing poisonous chlorine gas derailed and ruptured near this western Montana town on Thursday, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people and sending at least 91 to hospitals.

“It was burning our lungs and eyes,” said Layne Atwood, a trucker who drove into the cloud shortly after the derailment. “It takes your breath away so that you can’t breathe. You feel like your lungs are on fire.”

Of the 91 people taken to four area hospitals, 11 were admitted and two were listed in critical condition Thursday evening. The other 80 were treated and released. Most had lung irritation and difficulty in breathing.

Gov. Marc Racicot declared an emergency in Missoula and Mineral counties, allowing the National Guard and other state agencies to assist local governments.

The derailment involved a 71-car Burlington Northern-Santa Fe train pulled by five locomotives. It was operated by a Montana Rail Link crew on Rail Link track and making its way east from Pasco, Wash., with an eventual destination of Houston.

Interstate 90, which runs next to the derailment site, was closed. Traffic was rerouted on an 80-mile detour. All 400 people in Alberton were evacuated, as were rural residents for miles around.