No injuries reported in Saskatchewan derailment

Canadian officials reported no injuries Wednesday morning, Oct. 8, 2014, in the aftermath of a CN train derailment occurring Tuesday near Wadena, Saskatchewan that generated smoke and some fears of toxic release.

CN spokespeople reported two employees were on the train at the time of the derailment and both were safe, according to Canadian media.

An estimated 26 cars in the 100-car consist reportedly derailed. The cause has not yet been determined.

About 50 people were evacuated from Clair, a small community about one kilometer (6/10 mile) from the crash. People were also evacuated from other farm homes in the area, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported.

Six cars in the CN consist were deemed to carry hazardous materials, including four that had either hydrochloric acid or caustic soda. The other two had petroleum distillates, CN said.

In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, Saskatchewan provincial officials said a rapid response team made up of emergency management and fire safety experts had been sent to the scene, along with specialized air quality monitoring equipment from the federal Environment Ministry. A CN hazardous materials team also was expected to be on site, and officials from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada were reported en route to the scene.