Roundup: Freight train derails in U.S. state of Arizona, blazing bridge

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LOS ANGELES, July 29 (Xinhua) -- A freight train derailed while traveling on a bridge in the U.S. state of Arizona on Wednesday, setting the bridge on fire, authorities said.

"No injuries known at this time but the scene is very dangerous. Stay out of Tempe Town Lake and away from the area," Tempe Police Department Police Chief Sylvia Moir tweeted.

Union Pacific said as many as 10 train cars derailed at about 6:15 a.m. local time as it was crossing Tempe Town Lake on the Salt River Union Pacific Bridge. The south side of the bridge then collapsed and caught fire, according to a major local news outlet, azfamily.com powered by KTVK 3TV & KPHO CBS 5.

Television pictures from the scene showed that thick black smoke poured out of the burning cars of the long train.

"It looks like a scene from hell," Camille Kimball, a woman who rode her bike under the train bridge merely moments before the collapse and fire, was quoted as saying by azfamily.com, adding that there's fire pouring into the lake from the middle of the bridge and the flames are intense.

More than 90 firefighters are on the scene to prevent the fire spreading.

Tim McMahan, a Union Pacific Railroad spokesman, told media that the cause of the derailment is under investigation.

Several train cars were carrying lumber while others contained hazardous materials, the Arizona Republic, the state's largest newspaper, reported.

McMahan was quoted as saying by the Arizona Republic that two tank cars that derailed contained cyclohexanone, a colorless industrial chemical that is used as a solvent and in metal degreasing.

Another car contained a rubber material, McMahan said, noting that none of the tankers are reported to be leaking.

All Tempe Town Lake boating activities and classes are canceled due to the train derailment, said local officials.

Several roads are restricted near the lake and local light rail trains have stopped crossing the area in response to the incident.

Built in 1912, the Salt River Union Pacific Bridge, still used today by cargo trains, survived while floods destroyed the previous three truss bridges constructed in the same location, according to the official website of the City of Tempe, located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix. Enditem

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