In early February, a train that it was carrying toxic chemicals it derailed in eastern Ohio, starting a fire that shrouded the eastern Palestine city in smoke. Fearing that a large explosion would occur, the authorities cordoned off an evacuation zone and proceeded with a controlled emission of toxic gases to neutralize the burning cargo of some wagons.
The inhabitants feared for their health, as concern about the effect of the derailment grew and fire in the environment and in the transport network.
This is what we know.
What happened?
At approximately 9:00 pm on February 3, a train derailed in eastern Palestine, Ohio. a town of about 4,700 inhabitants located about 80 km northwest of Pittsburgh. Approximately 50 of the train’s 150 cars went off the tracks en route from Madison, Illinois to Conway, Pennsylvania.
The train, operated by Norfolk Southern, it carried chemicals and combustible materials. Of these, vinyl chloride, a toxic flammable gas, was the one that concerned the researchers the most. The derailment caused a large fire that generated a thick cloud of smoke that spread across the sky and across the city.
Residents on both sides of the Ohio-Pennsylvania border ordered to evacuate as Ohio Governor Mike DeWine warned of a possible explosion.
City and federal officials have launched an investigation involving the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Was there any damage to the environment?
The derailment raised concerns for the air, soil and water pollution.
On February 10, the EPA reported that about 20 rail cars were carrying hazardous materials. According to the EPA, chemicals such as vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether are “known to have been and continue to be released” into air, soil and surface waters .
On Feb. 12, the EPA, after monitoring the air, said so had not detected contaminants at “worrying levels” in and around eastern Palestine, although neighbors can still pick up odors.
Working with Norfolk Southern and the Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency, the EPA had tested the air in about 290 homes as of Feb. 13 and said it hadn’t detected vinyl chloride or hydrochloric acid, which can cause life-threatening respiratory problems. of life.
Another 181 homes were awaiting analysis, according to the agency.
Fearing an explosion authorities carried out a supervised release on February 6 of toxic materials from five tank wagons and the contents diverted into a ditch and burned.
Precautionary measures have been taken throughout the region. The West Virginia affiliate of American Water, which provides water services in 24 states, said on Feb. 12 he had detected no changes in the water since his intake of the Ohio River. But he installed a secondary intake on the Guyandotte River in case an alternative source was needed. The branch, which serves more than half a million people, said it had also improved its treatment processes.
Residents have been evacuated and are facing uncertainty.
Immediately after the derailment, between 1,500 and 2,000 Palestinians from the east They have received orders to evacuate the area.. Schools and some roads remained closed throughout the week. Norfolk Southern said it has donated $25,000 to help the American Red Cross set up shelters and cope with the influx of people.
On February 6, DeWine expanded the evacuation order to include anyone in a 1.5 by 3 kilometer area around eastern Palestine, including parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania.
One of the evacuees, Ben Ratner, told CNN that he and his family members had been extras in a 2022 film adaptation of Don DeLillo’s 1985 novel “White Noise.” In that story, a train derails and spills chemicals, causing an “air poisoning phenomenon” that forces the evacuation of a small Midwestern college town.
Homecoming
On Feb. 8, the governor’s office said residents could go home after air quality samples measured pollutants below levels of concern. This was reported by the East Palestine Water Treatment Plant having observed no adverse effects.
Norfolk Southern said in a statement that its own experts and contractors were testing water from private wells, although homeowners were advised to use bottled water.
Norfolk Southern offered help with hotel costs to residents who didn’t want to go home.
No injuries or deaths were reported as a result of the derailment. but many wonder how safe the area is. On social media and in the news, some residents said fish and frogs were dying in streams in the area. Some shared pictures of dead animals or said they smelled chemicals in the city.
The arrest of a journalist during a press conference about the derailment sparked online criticism of the police response.
Residents complain of headaches and rioting after the derailment. A federal lawsuit filed by two Pennsylvanians seeks to force Norfolk Southern to set up a health surveillance system for residents of both states, reports the Associated Press, and pay for corresponding care to those within a 50-minute radius. kilometres.
How long will it take to get back to normal?
The EPA notified Norfolk Southern on Feb. 10 that it may be responsible for costs associated with site cleanup. The agency did not provide details on when the place could be considered fully back to normal. The NTSB is still investigating the cause of the derailment.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is working on an evaluation of a remediation plan.
“In the beginning, in most environmental spills, it is difficult to determine the exact amount of material that has been released into the air, water and soil,” wrote James Lee, media relations manager at the EPA in Ohio, in an email to CNN. . “The evaluation phase that will take place after the end of the emergency will help determine that information.”
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.