CN Train Derailment Today: Train Explodes, Hazardous Materials Prompts Evacuation In Saskatchewan [PHOTOS + VIDEO]

A Canadian National (CN) train derailment today occurred as the freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed and caught fire in Saskatchewan Tuesday. The major CN train derailment today occurred east of Clair, Sask., sending plumes of black smoke towering into the sky and prompting the evacuation of residents nearby.

Authorities said the smouldering railcars from the CN train derailment today may be toxic.

Emergency crews immediately responded to the scene of the CN train derailment, which happened at 10:40 a.m. CST Tuesday about 20 kilometres west of the town of 1,300 and located about 230 kilometres east of Saskatoon, according to CBC News.

As of the current moment, there were no injuries reported. Two employees aboard the train at the time of the CN trail derailment were both reported safe.

"It's huge," Editor Alison Squires of the Wadena News told CBC News, while describing what she saw shortly after the CN train derailment today. "It's like taller than a [grain] elevator," she added.

Several farms near Clair were evacuated, with about 50 residents affected. Clair is reportedly a small community located about one kilometre from the crash.

According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), people around the area, living on other farm homes were also evacuated.

Clair and rural home residents near the CN train derailment today have been sent to Wadena where an operations and reception centre has been put up.

"Huge plumes of smoke and fire. RCMP and obviously local fire departments are there. They're detouring traffic," said Squires.

Meanwhile, there is no word on the duration of the evacuation order. However, officials said a media briefing and update regarding the CN train derailment today will be in place 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Worried over hazardous materials which the train carried, police closed a stretch of Highway 5 in both directions. People eight kilometres from the scene of the CN train derailment were also kept back, reports the Toronto Sun.

Traffic is also being detoured around routes near the site, with provincial government officials saying the detours will remain until areas affected by the CN train derailment today are deemed safe.

Wadena School students were told to keep indoors even on a school day.

Spokesman Rob Johnston from the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada said they are aware some of the derailed cars had been carrying "combustible" and flammable hazardous goods.

Johnston did not specify Tuesday exactly what all the hazardous materials were.

In a radio interview with CKNW, CN Rail said 26 of the train's 100 cars jumped the tracks, two of which carried petroleum distillate. These chemicals spilled following the CN train derailment today, going up in flames.

Six of the cars reportedly contained hazardous materials. Four apparently had either hydrochloric acid or caustic soda. The other two had petroleum distillates, said CN spokesman Jim Feeny. Fortunately, Feeny updated that the other four dangerous goods cars were left intact.

Meanwhile, other residents are expressing concern of how their lives will be affected by the CN train derailment today.

"I'm concerned for my animals," Clair resident Jason Evans said on Tuesday. He was pertaining to his livestock near the site of the CN train derailment.

He added, "I've got 600 head of buffalo there," noting that smoke seemed to be heading in their direction. "It's going over the top of my pastures, its going over the top of my hay field."

"Is that going to affect my hay and my livestock is what I'm kind of interested to find out," he voiced out.

Feeny said that as of the moment, the company' focus is "the safety of the public and the environment and that is what we and the local first responders are engaged in now."

"The first step will be to work with local authorities to ensure that the fire is extinguished," Feeny added.

"At the same time that is being done, there will of testing of air and soil to make sure there are no effects and if any remediation is needed," he continued.

"That remediation will be done. Cars will be cleaned up, the spilled product will be cleaned up and the line will be put back into service," said Feeny.

The three westbound locomotives were en route to Saskatoon from Winnipeg, according to Global News.

The smoke and fire billowing out of the site of the CN train derailment today continued for hours. Witnesses reported that the flames were at least 30 metres high. The smoke only diminished by late afternoon, although access to the site remained limited.

On Tuesday afternoon, TSB officials went to the site to investigate. Provincial hazardous materials crews have also been dispatched to work with first responders already at the scene of the CN train derailment today.

At the same time, Saskatchewan province 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 Environment Ministry.

The CN train derailment today appeared to be handled well by the authorities and has immediately undergone damage control.

"Environment [officials] will be monitoring air quality in the area," Feeny said. "They will be working with CN and the local officials as part of a co-ordinated response."

Twitter was abuzz with reports from witnesses and several people voicing their opinion.