Authorities Urge Evacuation of Casselton, N.D. after Derailed Oil Train Explodes

Authorities urged residents to evacuate a small North Dakota town late Monday after a mile-long train carrying crude oil derailed and exploded after colliding with another train. The plume of smoke from the continuing fires is visible for 25 miles.

The collision occurred just before 2:20 p.m., when a westbound BNSF train carrying grain derailed and was then hit by an eastbound BNSF train carrying oil, according to a public information officer with North Dakota Emergency Services.

The BNSF railroad companies are subsidiaries of Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway Inc.