<p>SIBLEY, Iowa — Thick black smoke billowed into the air Sunday after a train derailed in northwest Iowa, prompting authorities to evacuate part of a small, nearby town.</p>
<p>The fiery derailment happened early Sunday afternoon on the southwest edge of Sibley, which is a town of about 3,000 people roughly 200 miles (321.87 kilometers) northwest of Des Moines.</p>
<p>Photos and video of the <a href="https://siouxlandnews.com/news/local/train-derails-near-sibley-iowa-sections-of-town-evacuated-for-safety">derailment </a> posted <a href="https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/developing-train-derailment-near-sibley-iowa/">online </a> Sunday show about 30 train cars piled up along the tracks with flames and a large plume of smoke coming from one end of the pile of cars. Local media reports say authorities evacuated an area within 5 miles (8.05 kilometers) of the derailment. </p>
<p>Sibley Fire Chief Ken Huls told KIWA radio the train was hauling fertilizer and ammonium nitrate. </p>
<p>Nate Minten of Sibley told the Des Moines Register that smoke was still visible around 4:30 p.m. Sunday from his mother’s home. </p>
<p>“I could see smoke filling up a couple hundred feet at least,” said Minten who posted aerial drone video of the derailment online, “We didn’t hear any bangs or anything.”</p>
