Four people are hospitalized after train derails and falls into the Mississippi River in Wisconsin 

Four people were injured after a train carrying lithium batteries and paint derailed into the Mississippi River in southwest Wisconsin on Thursday afternoon.

The derailment happened in Ferryville, south of the Lansing Bridge, at around 12.15pm, operator of the train BNSF confirmed, and caused at least two cars to float downstream.

The four people injured had non-life-threatening injuries according to local station WXOW.

Marc Myhre, from Crawford County Emergency Management, told the station that around 20 cars had derailed from the tracks and that two cars that were linked together floated downriver of the derailment.

He said fire crews were in the process of recovering the containers and setting up barriers in the river to prevent the spreading of oil, gas or paint.

Four people were injured after a train derailed into the Mississippi River in south west Wisconsin on Thursday afternoon

'It was reported to us that there were hazardous materials on the train itself but it's not believed to be a concern to the public or the responders at this time as those cars were contained,' said Myhre.

He confirmed that some responders were injured but was not aware how many or what condition they were in.

Video recorded by Caitlin Nolan and obtained by Spectrum News Wisconsin showed a number of toppled train cars, many of which were submerged in the Mississippi River.

Facebook page 'Crawford County WI Scanner' also reported that the train's contents were mostly lithium batteries and paint.

A spokesperson for BNSF confirmed to DailyMail.com that one of its trains was involved in the derailment. 

'BNSF Railway can confirm that a train derailed near De Soto, Wisconsin (approximately 30 miles south of La Crosse) on April 27, at approximately 12:15 pm local time,' they wrote.

Fire crews were working on setting up a barriers in the river to prevent the spreading of oil, gas or paint

Marc Myhre, from Crawford County Emergency Management, told WXOW the cars were carrying mainly lithium batteries and paint

U.S. Rep Derrick Van Orden released a statement saying members of his staff were attending the site of he crash 'to get answers on what occurred'

They added: 'Two of the three locomotives and an unknown number of cars carrying freight of all kinds are reported to be derailed on the bluff side of the Mississippi River. The main track is blocked in both directions and an estimated time for reopening the track is not available.

'Crew members are accounted for, with one receiving medical evaluation. Local first responders are on-site. BNSF has personnel en route to the scene and the cause of the incident is under investigation.'

BNSF would not confirm whether there were batteries and paint in the cars. 

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers confirmed the derailment and said his office was working with the Wisconsin Department of Transport and Department of Natural Resources.

'I will be actively monitoring this incident as we await further confirmed details,' he wrote. 

U.S. Rep Derrick Van Orden released a statement saying members of his staff were attending the site of he crash 'to get answers on what occurred'.