A cargo train carrying bombs and grenades has derailed in Nevada.

Footage captured at the scene shows smoke rising above the carriage, with one eyewitness describing the crash as a "mangled mess".

An early alert from the Elko City County Public Safety feed said a train carrying hand grenades and bombs had derailed outside Wells, northeastern Nevada.

The alert added that it was also carrying sodium nitrate and "denatured fuel".

Roads around the incident were closed as authorities responded to the "hazardous material spill", the Elko County Sheriff's Office said in a statement posted to Facebook.


It said the munitions cargo was not believed to be inside the derailed carriages, which were located at the opposite end of the train.

Union Pacific officials later said the material spilled in the crash was vegetable oil.

No injuries were reported.