22 train cars plunge into river after derailment in California

A freight train has derailed in the U.S. state of California, sending 22 train cars into a swollen river. No one was injured in the accident.

The Union Pacific Railroad spokesman Justin Jacobs was quoted by the local KCRA TV as saying that three people were onboard the train when it derailed at about 12:45 p.m. Friday near the city of Elk Grove.

Twenty-two cars of the 33-car train derailed from its tracks and most of them landed in a flooded area adjacent to the Cosumnes River, he said.

The company "absolutely apologized for the disruption, but thankfully there were no injuries, no hazardous material involved," he said.

The northbound train carrying food products was headed from Tracy, a city belonging to the greater San Francisco Bay Area, to Roseville, which was located in the Sacramento metropolitan area.

KCRA's picture showed near the train derailment was a levee break, but it was unclear if that caused the derailment.

Rescue operation was stuck by the flood as firemen had to walked there on foot from about 2 kilometers away and could not find a place for their cranes.

The cause of the derailment was under investigation.

Union Pacific was doing inspections in the area because of recent inclement weather. Endit