Some evacuees return home after train derailment

DU QUOIN, Ill. -- Some of the people evacuated from their homes Sunday after a train derailed and spilled hazardous chemicals began to return Tuesday.

But for most of the 1,000 evacuees, home will continue to be a Red Cross shelter, motel room or the home of friends or relatives until more of the wreckage is cleared.

A 21-car Canadian National-Illinois Central freight train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed Sunday morning while traveling through Tamaroa, prompting local officials to evacuate everyone within three miles of the town of 800 people.

The train was carrying methanol, vinyl chloride, hydrochloric acid and formaldehyde, each either flammable or toxic if not handled correctly.

Officials said they made the decision to allow some evacuees to return after completing the removal overnight of flammable vinyl chloride from a damaged tanker.