HERINGTON ? A ruptured rail car leaked up to 11,000 gallons of sulfuric acid into a creek in east-central Kansas.

Workers were busy Monday trying to remove the acid from Lime Creek in Herington. The acid spilled Sunday after a Union Pacific rail car’s tank ruptured.

The Kansas health department warned area residents to avoid using water from the creek. And ranchers who water their cattle from the creek have been alerted.

The Wichita Eagle reports the accident happened when two Union Pacific cars bumped each other while the cars were being moved around the rail yard.

It is expected to take several days to clean up the spill.