Controlled chemical release scheduled to prevent explosion in wake of Ohio train derailment

Three days after a 150-car train derailed in northeast Ohio. And risked an explosion due to chemicals. On board, authorities announced a planned chemical release.

Evacuations were already underway over the weekend within. A 1-mile radius of the crash in the East Palestinian village after the crash was reported at 8:55 p.m. Friday

It is not clear what caused the train derailment, but since it happened. The crash site has seen many small explosions as several cars believed. To be transporting hazardous materials derailed and caught fire on Sunday morning.( Admin)

National Transportation Safety Board member Michael Graham said Sunday. That at least five of the derailed cars were carrying a chemical of concern. Vinyl chloride, which is highly flammable and linked to an increased risk of cancer.

At a news conference Monday afternoon, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said. “The vinyl chloride contents of five rail cars are currently unstable. And could potentially explode causing a fatal release of shrapnel and toxic fumes.”

“Norfolk Southern Railway is planning a chemical controlled release. At 3:30pm to reduce the risk of this shrapnel. Controlled release also has the potential to be fatal if inhaled,” he said.

As a result, DeWine and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro ordered. The immediate evacuation of a 1-mile by 2-mile area around East Palestine. That includes parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania.

DeWine shared a model of the neighborhood in eastern Palestine. Those in a red zone close to the derailment are in “serious danger of death” if they stay in place. While those in the far, yellow zone are at risk of “severe lung damage” if they don’t move, he said.

DeWine said law enforcement officers were knocking. On doors in the area Sunday night ordering people to leave. “We don’t know if anyone is left,” he said.

A Norfolk Southern Railway official said Monday. that the controlled release would take between. One and three hours, depending on how much of the chemical had already been burned.

“The process that we’re going to do today, we’re going to place a small shaped charge. It’s going to make a hole in the tank car about 2 to 3 inches. It’s going to let the material out of the tank car, it’s going to go into a hole. And a trench that we Excavated and placed for this operation. There will be flares inside that trench… then the material will light up,” the official said.

“We’re doing this so we can control these tank cars that we have concerns about. It allows us to control that activity and not have a car seat and do it by itself.”

Concerns arose over the chemicals on the derailed train on Sunday. When DeWine’s office said unstable temperatures in the cars transporting. The chemicals could cause explosions.

“In the past two hours, a rail car has undergone a drastic temperature change. And now there is the possibility of a catastrophic tanker failure. That could cause an explosion with the potential for fatal shrapnel. To travel up to a mile,” the governor’s office said in a statement.

The governor’s office said residents who live with children may be arrested. It cited a threat to the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office. At 8 p.m., the governor ordered. Ohio National Guard troops to East Palestine to assist local authorities. His office said.

A train enthusiast facing the back yard of the east-west railroad. Used by Norfolk Southern said the derailed area is a straight section.

Federal investigators have focused in part on the role of possible mechanical failure. In the search for the cause of the derailment, officials said Sunday.

The train crew said an alarm indicating such a malfunction went off just before the crash. Graham said at a news conference.

Besides, two videos of the train obtained by NTSB investigators showed. that A rail car may have had a broken or defective axle, Graham said Sunday.

The crew — an engineer, a conductor and a conductor trainee — was able to help stop. The train Friday night and then disconnect its three engines from its cars/many. Of them burned out, officials said. No injuries were initially reported.

Graham on Sunday identified at least 10 of the derailed cars as “hazmat cars.” Or cars carrying hazardous materials or chemicals.

Vinyl chloride, which is used to make. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes, car upholstery and picnic containers. Has been linked to an increased risk of liver. Brain and lung cancers as well as some blood cancers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Environmental Protection Agency personnel have been in East Palestine since Friday night. And are monitoring the air and water, two EPA officials said at a news conference Sunday.

In a statement on Saturday, the East Palestinian village. said it had discovered “zero health risks” so far.

“Drinking water in villages is safe to drink.