Crews release toxic chemicals from derailed freight train to avert explosion after evacuation

US News

Rail crews in Ohio have been burning off toxic chemicals from a freight train that derailed last week, after ordering nearly 2,000 residents to evacuate their homes.

The train, operated by Norfolk Southern Railroad and consisting of three locomotives and 150 freight cars, was travelling from Illinois to Pennsylvania when it derailed shortly before 9pm on Friday.

The incident set off a huge fire that forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes in the immediate vicinity.

A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of the controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk and Southern trains 
Pic:AP
Image:
The controlled detonation of a section of the derailed train. Pic: AP

About 50 cars actually left the tracks, 20 of which carried hazardous materials, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

You Might Like

Public safety concerns deepened after officials said pressure-relief devices on some tankers were found on Sunday to have stopped working, which the company said could “result in a catastrophic failure”.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said in a statement the chemical contents of the five rail cars in question were “unstable and could potentially explode, causing deadly disbursement of shrapnel and toxic fumes”.

A plan was made to perform a controlled release of the cars under the supervision of experts and emergency officials.

The venting of vinyl chloride, a highly flammable and carcinogenic gas, began with a single explosion, followed by a steady incineration of the remaining cargo, said Sandy Mackey, a spokesperson for the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

The tankers lying across the tracks
Image:
The tankers lying across the tracks

Live video on Monday showed a towering column of thick, black smoke rising from the accident site in East Palestine, Ohio, a village close to the Pennsylvania border northwest of Pittsburgh.

No injuries were reported from the operation or the incident itself, authorities said.

Peggy Clark, a spokesperson for the Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency, said the mandatory evacuation covered an estimated 1,900 people on the Ohio side alone.

Read more:
More powerful tremors among 285 aftershocks recorded in earthquake-stricken region
Moment young girl pulled from rubble of building in Syria
UN chief fears world ‘sleepwalking into wider war’

Drone footage shows the freight train derailment
Image:
Drone footage shows the freight train derailment

Mr DeWine’s office warned that fumes released into the air from the venting operation could be deadly if inhaled, while also posing the risk of skin burns and serious lung damage.

Vinvyl chloride is a colourless, industrially produced gas that burns easily and is used primarily in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe and other products, according to the National Cancer Institute.

It also is a by-product of cigarette smoke.

Articles You May Like

Conspiracies to compassion: How the tone in the US has changed after Kate’s cancer announcement
Massie accuses Trump of ‘ridiculous bullying tactics’ after Trump calls for primary challenge against GOP congresswoman
Spending Bill Funds Group Giving Youth Chest Binders, LGBTQ Gear
Reagan shooter John Hinckley Jr. says he’s ‘a victim of cancel culture’
Why These Women Chose to Have 5 or More Kids

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *