[Fair use for education and research purpose only]

Posted at 12:31 p.m. EST Tuesday, March 28, 2000

Title: Derailed tank car prompts evacuation

The Associated Press

ORANGEBURG -- Hundreds of people were allowed to return to their homes late this morning, after they were evacuated while officials picked up a railroad tank car containing a flammable liquid that overturned here.

There was no leak of the colorless liquid, isobutylene, from the car, said Thom Berry with the Department of Health and Environmental Control. Isobutylene is used in the manufacture of synthetic rubber and resins.

There were no problems in getting the car back on the tracks, Berry said.

The evacuation order was lifted at 11 a.m., he said.

The tank car was being moved to a siding rail late Monday night to allow another train to pass on the main line when one of the wheels came off the rail and the car toppled over, Berry said.

An area about a half mile around the site was evacuated today while a crane was brought in to right the car.

The area evacuated included Edisto Convalescent Center with 130 patients and Jolly Acres Health Care with 60 patients, but Berry did not know how many other people left their homes.

http://www.thestate.com/headlines/alldocs/26tankersc.htm

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), March 28, 2000