Chemical exposure' train derailment shuts Trans-Canada Highway in southern Alta., prompts evacuation

Chemical exposure' train derailment shuts Trans-Canada Highway in southern Alta., prompts evacuation

Residents near hamlet of Irvine asked to leave immediately as county declares local state of emergency

David Bell · CBC News · 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/train-derailment-irvine-alberta-1.5235409

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A train derailment in southern Alberta has forced an evacuation and shut down part of the Trans-Canada Highway.

Between 12 and 15 cars left the tracks near Irvine, Alta., on Friday afternoon, police said, and some may contain flammable cargo.

The derailment involves "chemical exposure" according to Alberta Emergency Alert, which told residents within a seven-kilometre radius to evacuate the area immediately. 

The train derailed on the west side of Irvine — a community of about 300 people, some 35 kilometres southeast from Medicine Hat — along the north side of Highway 1 in Cypress County, officials said in an alert sent at 4:52 p.m. MT.

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Evacuation area now expanded to 7 kilometers due to dangerous chemicals.