Ohio train derailment that happened on Friday was carrying a harmful chemical Vinyl Chloride.
The incident took place in the Ohio village of East Palestine. The harmful Vinyl Chloride contained inside the cars.
On Saturday residents were evacuated from East Palestine due to the release of the toxic chemicala nd fear of explosion.
A controlled operation to drain vinyl chloride that has the potential to explode from five Norfolk Southern rail cars began just after 4:30 p.m. ET.
The five cars are burning and hurling toxic fumes into the air and shooting deadly shrapnel as far as miles away.
The Process of Control Release of Vinyl Chloride is Continuing on East Palestine Village
Scott Deutsch of Norfolk Southern Corporation had earlier said small, shaped charges would be used to blow a small hole in each rail car.
The vinyl chloride would then spill into a trench where flares would ignite and burn it away.
Columbian County Emergency Management Agency official and Norfolk Southern Spokesperson said “One rail car in particular had been focus of concern because its malfunctioning safety valves had prevented the car from releasing the vinyl chloride inside.”
At 7 p.m. the flames were reduced and a small fire continued in the pit.
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The Civilians are Getting Evacuated from East Palestine, Ohio
The area surrounding the 1 – 2 miles East Palestine where the accident occurred is getting evacuated.
A team of the Environment Protection Agency will monitor the air and water quality in the area.
Mayor Conaway said that “He was proud of the citizens as everyone cleared out when officials went door-to-door and there were no arrests.”
The East Palestine City School District will be closed for the rest of the week due to toxic fumes getting released.
Norfolk Southern Railway Department released the statement via twitter about the details of family assistance centre location.
East Palestine Update: Due to the road closures within East Palestine, we have moved the Family Assistance Center to:
Abundant Life Fellowship Church, 46469 OH-46, New Waterford, OH 44445.
The center is open now.
More: https://t.co/A7ZeZUxaxE
— Norfolk Southern (@nscorp) February 6, 2023
Reason Behind the Ohio Train Derailment
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Michael Graham said 50 cars derailed in near East Palestine of Ohio.
Out of which 20 cars contain harmful chemicals Vinyl Chloride, which has the possibility of getting explode.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) member Michale Graham said “The crew did receive an alarm from a wayside defect detector shortly before the derailment, indicating a mechanical issue,” then an emergency brake application initiated.”
NTSB is still investigating the potential cause of the train accident when the defect happened and the response from the crew, which included an engineer, conductor, and conductor trainee.
Investigators have also requested records from Norfolk Southern including track inspection records, locomotive and railcar inspections, maintenance records, train crew, and qualifications.