Freight train derails and erupts into flames along tracks in Illinois 

A massive fire is raging fury in southern Illinois after a freight train derailed and a tank holding a flammable liquid erupted in flames on Tuesday.

A Union Pacific train in St. Clair County, Illinois suddenly derailed in a rail yard around 12.45pm. 

Shocking photos from derailment and blaze show at least 16 train cars off the tracks, some of them toppled over and charred in the flames. 

St. Clair County Emergency Management said they received a call just after 12:30 p.m and are currently on the scene at the 2400 block of Carondelet Avenue. 

Union Pacific says there are no injures reported at the moment.  

A Union Pacific train in St. Clair County, Illinois suddenly derailed around 12.30pm. Photos from the derailment show at least 16 cars derailed and caught fire

At least 16 train cars derailed and many caught fire in the Dupo, Illinois rail yard Tuesday

Harrowing videos from the scene show plumes of black smoke rising from the tracks visible for miles

The derailment sent black clouds of smoke into the air that was visible by locals in downtown St. Louis

Firefighters are on the scene to put out the raging flames. 

One witness said heard a loud bang and then saw a fireball go up at the rail yard in the Tuesday afternoon incident, according to KMOV4.  

Dupo Police announced evacuations for the area around 1.15pm and several homes in the area were cleared, according to WVTM. 

Locals in the Adams subdivision were ordered to evacuate and sent to the East Carondelet Community Center.

Schools in the Dupo School District were also evacuated and students and staff were transported to Columbia High School. 

Authorities said they are not aware of any injuries at the moment.  

Union Pacific released a statement Tuesday afternoon following the derailment explaining that a tank carrying a flammable chemical car caught fire, sparking the roaring blaze.

Fire department on the scene: Firefighters rushed to the scene to tackle the furious flames

Dupo Police announced evacuations for the area around 1.15pm and several homes in the area were cleared in the emergency response

‘Around 12:45 p.m., a derailment occurred in Union Pacific’s Dupo Yard near Carondelet Avenue between Main and Adams Road. Both crossings are closed. The train was being built for departure at the time of the derailment, which caused a tank car to catch fire.

‘Initial information from the scene indicates that the tank car contains a flammable liquid called methyl isobutyl ketone. It is typically used as a solvent.

‘Union Pacific is working with area first responders to put out the fire. Our yard and nearby intermodal ramp were safely evacuated. At this time, no injuries have been reported,’ the statement added. 

Methyl isobutly ketone is a solvent for manufacturing paints, rubbers, pharmaceuticals, other chemicals, and industrial cleaners. 

It’s highly flammable and can cause explosions. Prolonged contact to the chemical can result in a skin rash, dryness and redness. It could also damage the liver and kidneys.

Harrowing videos from the scene show plumes of black smoke rising from the tracks visible for miles.  

Smoke from the horror derailment and fire is visible from downtown St. Louis, which is about a 15-minute drive from Dupo, Illinois where the blaze broke out.  

This is a developing story.