Chemical Car Leaks, Burns; 800 Evacuated
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Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — A railroad tank car filled with nearly 34,000 gallons of an explosive chemical sprung a leak and caught fire Wednesday, and police evacuated about 800 people from the area. Two major highways, rail lines and nine schools were closed, authorities said.
Orange flames and thick, black smoke rose around the car as its cargo of butadiene, a chemical used in synthetic rubber, leaked from the bottom of the tank and burned.
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