In Iowa, a train fell from a bridge into a river. VIDEO

On Sunday morning, after a week of heavy rain, in Alton, Iowa, 37 derailed from 95 freight train wagons on the bridge, 20 of them fell into the river. As a result of the accident, no one was hurt, no hazardous materials leaked into the Floyd River and were not detected in the air over the city. One of the reasons that led to the collapse, authorities believe the recent flooding of the area.

Photo: WION / YouTube frame

The crash occurred after the rains, which raised the level of the river under the railway bridge to a record high threshold. As of early Sunday morning, the water in the river was still high, meteorologists clarify. A train heading from Mankato, Minn. To North Plate, Nebraska, was carrying industrial sand and soybean oil. Part of the sand hit the water, writes Des Moines Register.

Photo: WION / YouTube frame

The bridge under the derailed train was destroyed. In a video posted on Facebook, the Sioux County Sheriff's Office showed mangled train cars lying in the Floyd River. City officials say the bridge has "disappeared, reduced to rubble under a train." Several local fire departments, county officials and Union Pacific employees responded to the incident. People living three or four blocks from the bridge could clearly hear the sound of the crash, authorities said.

Photo: WION / YouTube frame

The incident was the second in a year like this in northwestern Iowa. 22 Jun in the Rock River dropped 32 freight cars carrying crude oil. Thousands of gallons of fuel were in the water. Shortly before this crash, the river also overflowed due to heavy rains. Due to heavy rains, the city authorities closed part of the street that runs above the river. On Sunday, the sheriff’s office also issued a recommendation for drivers to bypass the crash zone so that authorities could clear the scene.

Photo: WION / YouTube frame

The level of the Floyd River peaked on Thursday afternoon, being about 12 feet (3,6) meters above normal. When the train derailed, the fallen cars formed a temporary dam for the river, meteorologists say.

Union Pacific representatives said they were carefully studying the weather forecasts and the environmental conditions in which the trains operate. The company urges train crews to be safe if they are faced with a weather problem that may affect the ability of the train to continue on the tracks.

Cedar Rapids prepares for flooding

Like northwest Iowa, other parts of the state were hit by heavy rainfall last week, causing some cities to flood and others to actively prepare for the possibility. Rod Donavon, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Des Moines, said water levels have risen only slightly in the Des Moines, Iowa and Cedar river basins since Sunday as excess water moves south into broader river basins.

Nevertheless, officials in Cedar Rapids yesterday were still preparing for possible floods: storm drains were installed in areas near the river, which were supposed to prevent water from entering the storm sewer system and flood roads. The city also closed several roads by the river. By the end of Tuesday, the water level in the river near Cedar Rapids can reach 17,5 feet (5,3 meters).

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