'Like an atomic bomb going off': Two towns evacuated as oil train explodes - see VIDEO

Around 200 people where evacuated following a huge fire in West Virginia.

17:52 17 February 2015

 A train carrying more than 100 tankers of crude oil derailed and exploded in West Virginia this week in dramatic scenes that led to the evacuation of around 200 people. At least one tanker went into the Kanawha River, igniting at least 14 and sparking a house fire that completely demolished the property.

There are no immediate reports of injuries.

The rail company acknowledged the derailment on its Twitter page.

“A CSX train derailed in Mount Carbon, WV,” the company said. “We are working with first responders on the scene to ensure the safety of the community.”

A witness, David McClung, said: “We felt the heat, I can tell you that,” McClung said. “It was a little scary. It was like an atomic bomb went off.”

Another reported a 300ft fireball while another witness claimed to have felt the heat from his house half a mile away.

Meanwhile, the office of Governor Earl Ray Tomblin issued a state of emergency following the incident. It said that the tanker cars were loaded with Bakken crude from North Dakota and headed to Yorktown, Virginia.

A West Virginia American Water spokesman confirmed that the company shut down a water treatment plant, located about three miles from the derailment at about 2.30pm.