Homes Evacuated Following Mecca Train Derailment – Mecca California

The Riverside County Fire Department and Hazardous Materials Team are responding to a train derailment in the east valley.

The derailment happened around 8:45 p.m. near the intersection of Grant and Hammond just off of Highway 111 in Mecca.

At least 12 out of 55 cars were reportedly derailed, and at least two of those cars caught fire. Fire officials say about 60 residents in nearby homes have been evacuated, and a cloud of acid fumes is lingering over the crash site. One tanker car was carrying phosphoric acid, and another was carrying hydrochloric acid.

Evacuated residents are staying at the Mecca Community Center.

The intersection was closed along with the intersection at Highway 111 and 68th for crowd control.

There are no reports of injuries.