Massive explosion as oil tanker train derails in West Virginia

© APTN

Huge explosion as a train derails in West Virginia.

A train carrying more than 100 tankers of crude oil has derailed in southern West Virginia, sending at least one tanker into the Kanawha River and igniting at least 14 others that caused a house fire, officials said.

One person was being treated for potential inhalation issues, but no other injuries were reported, according to a news release from CSX, the train company.

Nearby residents were told to evacuate as state emergency response and environmental officials headed to the scene about 30 miles (48.2 kilometres) southeast of Charleston.

The state was under a winter storm warning and getting heavy snowfall at times, with as much as five inches (12.7 centimetres) in some places.

It's not clear if the weather had anything to do with the derailment, which occurred along a flat stretch of rail.

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