Train carrying sulphuric acid derails

(BBC)An exclusion zone is in place after a 26-carriage freight train carrying approximately 200,000 litres of sulphuric acid derailed in Australia.

“Emergency services attended the scene, however, Queensland Rail crews have been unable to access the site as the Flinders highway is now cut off due to flooding in the region”, Queensland Rail said.

Immediately after the accident, police spoke only of minor leakage of sulphuric acid and spillage of diesel fuel.

According to the TV channel, local authorities have already declared an emergency and placed more than one-mile exclusion zone around the crash site.

All 26 carriages on the locomotive derailed, with the train on its side.

“Both Aurizon and Queensland Rail will investigate the incident and determine its cause”. The area is expected to remain closed well into Sunday afternoon, with the clean up expected to take some time.

Inspector Trevor Kidd told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Monday that efforts were being made to assess the impact of the spill on the environment.