| Residents back home as Lafayette cleanup continues |
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| By The Associated Press | |
| Thursday, June 19 2008 | |
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LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) -- About 3,000 Lafayette residents have been allowed to return home as crews continue to clean up hydrochloric acid that spilled when six train cars rolled off the tracks.
State police say a one-mile evacuation radius was cut Sunday to 1,000 feet from the accident site. Authorities say the reduced area will affect only a few businesses, although the restrictions probably will not be lifted for a couple of days. State police say the cleanup is about halfway finished. BNSF Railway, which operated the train, says it's unclear how long the probe will take. The company will hand over the result to the Federal Railroad Administration. Saturday's wreck spread a toxic cloud over Lafayette. Five people, including two railroad workers, were sent to a hospital and treated after complaining of skin and eye irritation. The train had been headed to Lake Charles. An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 gallons spilled, forming a yellowish pool. Cleanup crews are using lime to neutralize the acid and vacuums to collect it. Bookmark     |
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