Train Derails, Bursts Into Flames in Virginia

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In this image made available by the City of Lynchburg, shows several CSX tanker cars carrying crude oil in flames after derailing in downtown Lynchburg, Va., Wednesday, April 30, 2014.

Image: City of Lynchburg, LuAnn Hunt/Associated Press

By Brian Ries2014-04-30 21:58:13 UTC

A train carrying crude oil derailed in Lynchburg, Va., on Wednesday afternoon, causing a huge fireball that local residents were quick to capture and share on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube while authorities evacuated the area.

"Wow guys. The train derailed right outside my building. Pray that no one is hurt," Instagram user sherifelipe said in a video of the scene posted shortly after 2 p.m. ET.

Twitter users, capturing the scene from afar, documented the fire and giant plume of acrid, blake smoke that followed.

The NTSB tweeted Wednesday evening that it was sending investigators to the scene of the derailment.

The international transportation company CSX, owner of the train, reportedly said its origin was Chicago, headed for an unknown destination in Virginia.

Once the fire was extinguished, CSX tweeted, it was "fully responding to the train derailment in Lynchburg" and "collaborating with environmental experts and first responders on site."

Amazingly, there are no reports of any injuries from the derailment and fire that followed.

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Topics: accidents, train, U.S., US & World