Morgan County, TN (WOKI / WVLT) – Residents in parts of Morgan County are now returning home after officials lifted evacuation orders tied to a train derailment in the Lancing area.
Authorities say the Norfolk Southern derailment happened in a remote location with no direct road access, creating challenges for emergency crews trying to reach the scene. Early reports indicate between 15 and 20 train cars derailed, with four or five of those carrying ethanol.
Out of an abundance of caution, nearby homes were evacuated as crews responded to the scene. Officials now say those evacuation orders have been lifted.
Emergency response efforts are continuing, with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency deploying district coordinators to assist local crews. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has also sent air monitoring teams to the area to ensure public safety.
Meanwhile, Plateau Electric Cooperative reports nearly 1,000 power outages in the area, though it remains unclear if those outages are directly related to the derailment.
As of now, there are no confirmed injuries, and the cause of the derailment remains under investigation. According to federal data, this marks the fifth train derailment reported in Tennessee so far this year.
