(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Washingtony May 01 - Authorities concerned in downtown Lynchburg Virginia are evacuating several buildings around a train derailment and fire along the James River .
The derailment occurred Wednesday afternoon in the small town in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and video shows several tanker cars derailed and extensive flames and smoke.
The train belongs to CSX Corporation and was carrying crude oil a Lynchburg city official said. Fourteen cars derailed and three or four of those are leaking said city communications director JoAn martin.
Martin said the accident happened near the waterfront and some crude is leaking into the river. More than 300 people were evacuated following the accident because of the smoke she said.
There have been several recent high-profile derailments of trains carrying oil in the United States and Canada leading regulators to propose new safety measures.
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