One month after the crash of another company train carrying hazardous commodities raised worries for the safety of individuals around, a Norfolk Southern cargo train derailed in Ohio on Saturday night.
According to a company spokeswoman, the incident on Saturday happened close to Springfield, Ohio, as the 212-car train was moving south. Near the Clark County Fairgrounds, about 20 carriages from a train that had no people on board crashed on State Road 41, prompting authorities to caution anyone within a mile of the incident to take cover. More than 1,500 people also experienced a brief loss of power as a result of the incident.
According to Norfolk Southern, there were no hazardous materials on board the train that may have caused an incident similar to the one that happened in East Palestine, Ohio in February.
A 150-car train carrying at least five dangerous chemicals, including vinyl chloride, which causes cancer, derailed on February 3 in the eastern Ohio town. Officials purposefully sprayed the chemicals into the air while rushing to prevent an explosion after temporarily evacuating the inhabitants.
Since the noxious fumes spread across the little hamlet, numerous livestock and other creatures have died. Rashes, sore throats, nausea, headaches, and burning sensations in the eyes are just a few of the symptoms that residents have described. Some have also mentioned persistent chemical smells.
Several Biden administration officials, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, vowed to hold the rail corporation accountable after facing criticism for the federal government’s response to the incident. Buttigieg tweeted in response to the derailment on Saturday that he was keeping an eye on the situation and in contact with state officials.
In response to the derailment that occurred today in Clark County, Ohio, he stated, “I have been briefed by FRA leadership and phoned with Gov. DeWine to offer our support. Although no confirmed releases of hazardous materials have occurred, we will continue to closely monitor, and FRA personnel are on the way.
