A train carrying crude oil derailed and caught fire on Tuesday in Washington state near the Canadian border, prompting a major emergency response and forcing the closure of Interstate 5 in both directions.
Authorities have advised residents of the small town of Custer, about 100 miles north of Seattle, to evacuate the area. No injuries have been reported, The Seattle Times reported.
The train derailed around 11:40 a.m. in Custer, BNSF Railway said on Twitter. Seven cars derailed and five caught fire, according to the state's Department of Ecology. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.
State traffic cameras showed a large black smoke plume.
