A Norfolk Southern train derailed in Edgefield County Friday night, causing an evacuation of residents and Aiken County Hazmat to report to the scene.
More than 30 rail cars derailed in Trenton on Salters Pond Road at Highway 121. The incident happened about 8:30 p.m., according to the Associated Press.
One train, which did not leak, was carrying anhydrous ammonia and another train, that did spill, was carrying dry ammonium nitrate, according to the Twitter account of S.C. Emergency Management Division.
No leak of dangerous materials were reported and the scene Friday night was turned back over to Norfolk Southern.
"Ammonium nitrate is basically like fertilizer - you can buy it at the hardware store," said Derrec Becker, the public information coordinator with the state's Emergency Management Division.
"Right now, it's still on the ground, and crews will use water to dissipate it right in the ground where it is."
Edgefield County issued an emergency evacuation following the derailment. Becker said 50 residents living 1½-miles surrounding Salters Pond Road were asked to evacuate immediately, as a precaution, to the local church, Mount Canaan Church in Edgefield County.
The state Emergency Management Division allowed those residents, except any living on Salter Pond Road, to return to their homes. Only four residents were still unable to return to their homes, and those individuals did make alternative sleeping arrangements, according to Becker.
The Red Cross was on the scene to assist individuals with shelter.
According to SCEMD, there is no danger to residents at this time.
South Carolina Sen. Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, tweeted emergency responders and hazmat teams would remain at the scene and continue to monitor air quality Friday night.
Becker said at this time they are still unsure what caused the derailment.
He said currently there are two rumors going around - one being that a tree in the middle of the tracks caused the trail to derail or that a tree possibly fell onto the train itself, resulting in the accident.
"Until the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) gets out there and investigates what happened, we just won't know," Becker said.
Follow the S.C. Emergency Management Division on Twitter @SCEMD.
The Aiken Standard reached out to Norfolk Southern, who did not return calls by press time.
Maayan Schechter is the local government reporter with Aiken Standard. Follow her on Twitter @MaayanSchechter.