Sulphuric acid spills as freight train derails in Australia

Extreme weather has hampered recovery efforts after a freight train transporting some 200,000 litres of sulphuric acid derailed in the Australian outback.

A two kilometre exclusion zone was declared around the crash site, 20 kilometres east of Julia Creek in northwest Queensland.

There are conflicting reports about how much acid was spilled when all 26 carriages derailed.

Immediately after the accident, police spoke only of minor leakage of sulphuric acid and spillage of diesel fuel.

Three people suffered minor injuries in Sunday’s derailment in an area hit by flooding.

Queensland weather: More storms expected in north Queensland https://t.co/jPmYVkR78qpic.twitter.com/oCK7JZNMwf

— Brisbane Times (@brisbanetimes) 28 Décembre 2015

The cause of the crash remains unknown.