Train carrying hazardous materials derails in Michigan

A train transporting hazardous materials partially derailed Thursday in suburban Detroit, officials said.

The derailment occurred around 8:45 a.m. in the area of Huron River Drive between Martinsville and Haggerty roads in Van Buren Township, about 30 miles west of downtown Detroit, local police said.

Aerial footage showed at least six cars off the rails. The accident damaged the tracks and caused several sets of wheels to detach from the cars.

Officials said no injuries were reported, and there was no evidence that hazardous chemicals were spilled, according to the statin WXYZ.

“At this time no one is aware of the release of any hazardous materials, the car carrying hazardous material has been put upright and is being removed from the area of the other derailed cars, and EPA is dispatching a team to ensure public safety,” Rep. Debbie Dingell, a Democrat whose congressional district includes Van Buren Township, said in a statement.

There was no immediate word on the cause of the derailment.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy said there was no indication of threats to the public. Officials were sent to the scene to investigate.

The crash caused road closures and drivers were asked to stay away from the area.

Thursday’s incident comes less than two weeks after a freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, spewing toxic chemicals that sparked a massive fire and led to evacuations in the area.

The main chemical burned was vinyl chloride, an ingredient used to produce plastics and PVC, which has been shown to cause cancer at high levels of exposure.