North Dakota experienced significant disruption on Wednesday as five tornadoes ripped through the region, causing 43 train cars to derail due to powerful winds. The BNSF Railway train had stopped in response to a tornado warning when the empty cars were blown off the tracks by the storm.
Kendall Sloan, a spokesperson for BNSF Railway, confirmed that no injuries occurred and that there were no hazardous materials involved in the derailment. The incident took place near Steele, North Dakota, where the National Weather Service (NWS) recorded a tornado touchdown at around 8:00 p.m. An earlier tornado was confirmed near Selfridge, North Dakota, at 5:40 p.m.
In addition to the confirmed tornadoes in North Dakota, the NWS detected three potential tornadoes in north-central South Dakota later that evening. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed as survey crews continue their work in the affected areas.
Cleanup operations commenced early Thursday morning, though it remains unclear how long it will take to clear the derailed cars and restore the area. The incident highlights the severe impact tornadoes can have on transportation infrastructure and the challenges of responding to such events in rural regions.
Officials are working diligently to address the damage and ensure the safety of North Dakota residents as they recover from this severe weather event.
