Spills · oil
The acid, which leaked from a train tanker car in a rail yard, sent a cloud of fumes into the air, forced…
Railcar Release; Cambridge, Ma · Cambridge, Ma · NOAAORR-7320
- issued
- 1998-07-31 00:00Z
- status
- cancelled 1998-08-14 00:00Z
- self-cancels
- 1998-08-14 00:00Z
- authority
- NOAA OR&R
- sea
- North Atlantic Ocean
- position
- 42.370, -71.109
- vessels
- TANKER CARTANKER CONTAINED SEVERAL COMPARTMENTS
- source
- incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z
Original warning text
Railcar Release; Cambridge, MA. Cambridge, MA. 1. The acid, which leaked from a train tanker car in a rail yard, sent a cloud of fumes into the air, forced the evacuation of two buildings, and shut down a highway. At least one man was taken to Somerville Hospital after, complaining of feeling ill. His condition was being evaluated. A crew member discovered the hydrochloric acid, leaking from a 6-inch gash in the bottom of the car, while making a routine inspection of the cars at 9:12 a.m. Cambridge fire officials first said the leak in the 66-thousand gallon white tanker car was caused by a train derailment. But when firefighters from the hazardous materials team got a close-up look, they determined that the tank split open because of a structural failure. The tanker contained several compartments, preventing its entire contents from spilling. Teams of hazardous materials specialists, dressed in plastic suits with hoods and face masks, [...] 2. THREAT: OIL. COMMODITY: CAUSTIC HYDROCHLORIC ACID. 3. POSITION 42.370N 071.109W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 7320: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/7320
This area · spills & pollution incidents
509 within 180 nm since 1972 · 12 in the last 12 months · 0 in force now
72
75
80
85
90
95
00
05
10
15
20
25
26
- 700 rockaway tpke, lawrence, ny 11559, USA2026-08-19
- Coast guard pier; new haven, connecticut2026-07-09
- 1 fernbrook st, yonkers, ny 107052026-07-03
- Montauk, ny, USA2026-06-25
- Winthrop, ma 02152, USA2026-06-05
- Skowhegan, me, USA2026-04-29
Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
month of issue, all years in the archive
Nearby now · within 120 nm
Nothing else in force within 120 nm.
Worldwide now
8 spills & pollution incidents in force · see all
Spills
Oil and chemical spills, groundings and vessel casualties with a pollution threat: NOAA IncidentNews responses since 1957, and spill-response areas broadcast as navigational warnings. All current spills & pollution incidents →
Not for navigation. This is a re-rendering of an official navigational warning for awareness; mariners must use official NAVAREA broadcasts and their national MSI service.