Train Carrying 30,000 Gallons of Propane Derails in Florida’s Manatee County

A derailed freight train operated by Seminole Gulf Railway near Bradenton, Fla., on Feb. 28, 2023. Steve Litschauer/Manatee County Government via AP

A train carrying around 30,000 gallons of propane derailed in Florida’s Manatee County on Feb. 28, officials said, just weeks after a train carrying toxic chemicals came off the tracks in East Palestine, Ohio.

Five railcars carrying sheet rock and two propane tankers were derailed in the 7200 block of 16 Street East in an industrial area north of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, the local government said.

A derailed freight train operated by Seminole Gulf Railway near Bradenton, Fla., on Feb. 28, 2023. Steve Litschauer/Manatee County Government via AP

According to South Manatee County Fire Rescue, one of the tankers is carrying 30,000 gallons of propane.

A second propane tanker also derailed but managed to stay upright.

Emergency crews from Southern Manatee Fire Rescue, and hazmat crews responded to initial calls regarding the partial derailment and could be seen working to secure the scene and clear the tracks in video footage shared on social media on Tuesday.

Members of the Manatee County Emergency Medical Services, Sheriff’s Office personnel, and Manatee County Public Safety personnel were also working to secure the area and monitor the situation.

Officials noted that clearing the tracks may take some time as the propane must be siphoned from the tanker before it can be moved. Roughly 150 feet of track has been left mangled from the derailment, according to reports.

No Evacuations Orders Issued

No injuries have been reported, and no leakage has been found as a result of the derailment as of yet, officials said. Additionally, no evacuation shelter-in-place notices have been issued.

“We are proud of our first responders,” said Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge. “Their quick action has helped maintain the safety and security of our citizens.”

Crews will continue to monitor the situation as clean-up efforts begin, including monitoring the air quality in the area, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The freight train that derailed is operated by Florida’s Seminole Gulf Railway and was minimally staffed, according to the local news outlet.

Representatives of Seminole Gulf Railway reportedly arrived at the scene on Tuesday along with Florida Department of Transportation staff and other railroad officials to investigate the cause of the incident.

The Epoch Times has contacted a Seminole Gulf Railway spokesperson for comment.

While the exact cause of the derailment is unclear, South Manatee County Fire Rescue Chief Robert Bounds told the Tampa Bay Times that the train had been traveling south when one car derailed, creating a domino effect.

Separately, Bounds told Fox 13 that thermal imaging has so far shown no leaks from the site.

‘No Damage to Propane Tank’

“We have drones. We run the hazmat team for the county of Manatee and we were in the air with our drone which has thermal capabilities,” he said.

“We were able to look at the tank and ascertain the levels of the tank from the outside, it’ll show up different colors if anything is actually leaking. There are no leaks. There are no actual physical damage to the tank other than the rollover, but there is no significant damage to it.”

The Fire Rescue Chief noted that the area may be evacuated when the propane is offloaded due to potential danger to the public. He added that the drones have spotted a homeless camp within close proximity to the derailment and officials have warned the individuals in the camp about the potential danger.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), said on Twitter that his team is “actively monitoring” the derailment and “reaching out to state and local officials to see how we can assist.”

“Our priority is doing everything we can to help keep the community and ALL Floridians safe,” Scott said.

Tuesday’s derailment in Manatee County comes just weeks after a Norfolk Southern-operated freight train carrying the hazardous chemical vinyl chloride derailed in East Palestine, leading to a spill of toxic chemicals and a burn of chemicals that had left residents concerned over the long-term health impacts.

Vinyl chloride can cause a rare form of liver cancer after long-term exposure, however, local officials have said that testing shows the air and drinking water are safe.