May 19, 2025

Tornado toppled about 100 rail cars in rural south central Kan.

Posted May 19, 2025 4:55 PM
Cleanup of the rail cars underway -Photo KHP
Cleanup of the rail cars underway -Photo KHP

KIOWA COUNTY—At about 11 p.m. Sunday, a stopped Union Pacific train was apparently hit by a tornado in rural, south central Kansas.

The train crew had stopped the train about two miles west of the small community of Haviland, after learning a tornado warning had been issued for the area, according to Union Pacific Spokesperson Robynn Tysver.

About 100 rail cars derailed. No one was injured, and no hazardous material was released. Cleanup is underway. 

Union Pacific Railroad thanked the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Department, which quickly responded to the scene and picked up the train crew.