Update: Train leaks 500 gallons of diesel in Tri-Cities. Some went into the Columbia River

State ecology officials now say about 500 gallons of diesel fuel was lost along 11 miles of track from Pasco to Finley.

The fuel spilled from a BNSF train as it passed through the Tri-Cities early Monday morning, says the Washington state Department of Ecology.

Ecology initially estimated that 200 gallons spilled along the tracks, including nine gallons that dripped into the Columbia River as the train crossed the railroad bridge downstream from the cable bridge.

A mechanical problem caused the train to lose the fuel, possibly from a fuel line in the locomotive.

A boat was launched onto the Columbia River after dawn to assess the problem.

By noon BNSF reported that no sheen was spotted on the river and no impact had been seen to wetlands along the tracks.

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BNSF continued to work on cleanup in the afternoon with a cleanup contractor it hired. A state Department of Ecology official also was on scene.

BNSF discovered and reported the leak to the Department of Ecology.

The train was heading to Seattle, BNSF said.

This story was originally published December 9, 2019 at 9:38 AM.