A Matewan, West Virginia train derailment forced three Mingo County schools to be closed Thursday after the wreckage blocked state Route 49.

Four cars of a 99-car Norfolk Southern freight train left the tracks about 01:30 EST, said Mingo County emergency official Mark Miller.

Because of the blockage, Matewan high school, middle school and elementary school were closed for the day.

Miller said the freight cars also hit the town's floodwall, causing an undetermined amount of damage to the structure.