Derailment, Chemical Leak & Chaos: What We Know About The Ohio Train Disaster That's Making Headlines

Eleven days after a train derailed, spilling toxic chemicals and causing a massive fire in East Palestine, Ohio, officials told residents on Tuesday to use bottled water until testing could confirm whether the local water supply was safe to drink ¡ª heightening concern among some locals who were already wary of returning to their homes.

On February 3, a horrifying railroad accident took place. A Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. You might've seen images of the flames, but you probably haven't heard that unions were trying to prevent this exact accident. ?pic.twitter.com/pnynoFHSnm

¡ª More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) February 10, 2023

What happened

A small town in Ohio, approximately 128 kilometres south of Lake Erie ¡ª not too far from the many cities and towns of southern Ontario ¡ª witnessed the nightmare when the train crashed and exploded, spewing toxic chemicals into the environment. Residents on both sides of the Ohio-Pennsylvania border were ordered to evacuate as Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio raised alarms about a possible explosion.

To avert the explosion, crews released the contents of five tankers full of vinyl chloride, an extremely combustible substance used in plastic production. Vinyl chloride is also associated with increased risk of liver cancer and other cancers, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

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The incident has been making headlines worldwide and #OhioTrainDisaster has been trending on Twitter ever since. Here's everything we know so far.

What we know

On Feb 3, at around 9 pm, a train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, a village of around 4,700 residents about 80 km northwest of Pittsburgh. There were 150 coaches on the route from Madison, Illinois, to Conway, Pennsylvania.

On Feb 14, The National Transportation Safety Board, investigating the incident, said that 38 coaches derailed and a fire ensued, damaging another 12 coaches. The derailment led to the spilling of toxic chemicals and caused a massive fire.

Residents who returned to the town of East Palestine after evacuation orders were lifted reported strange odours and dead animals, leaving some locals questioning if it truly is safe to return home. The Environmental Protection Agency maintains that the air and water around the crash site are secure.

More from Ohio train wreck pic.twitter.com/TBCjA5xwsY

¡ª Andrew John ?? (@andrewjohn21) February 13, 2023

How toxic are these chemicals?

The train had been carrying chemicals and combustible materials, with vinyl chloride, a toxic flammable gas, being of most concern to investigators. A massive fire erupted from the derailment, sending thick billowing smoke into the sky and over the town.

After the controlled burn, the Environmental Protection Agency warned area residents of possible lingering odours. Still, it noted that the byproducts of vinyl chloride can emit smells at levels lower than what is considered hazardous.

Further, Phosgene gas is a colourless gas with a strong odour that can cause vomiting and breathing troubles. It is highly toxic and was used as a weapon in World War I.

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What is the damage?

Water officials are tracking a large plume of contamination flowing down the Ohio River; the chemical release has killed about 3,500 fish in local waterways; and cleanup crews are excavating a "grossly contaminated" 1,000-foot area around the train tracks where butyl acrylate puddled and vinyl chloride burned.

One resident of North Lima, more than 16 km from East Palestine, told WKBN-TV of Youngstown that her five hens and rooster died suddenly Tuesday. The day before, rail operator Norfolk Southern had burned train cars carrying vinyl chloride ¡ª a flammable gas ¡ª to prevent an explosion.

For some people who live near the derailment site, the reports continue to spur fear that they and their animals might be exposed to chemicals through the air, water and soil. Some residents said they have begun to experience headaches and sickness since the derailment.

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Who is to be blamed?

Investigators say the train derailed because of a broken axle. Security footage 20 miles back on the rails showed the undercarriage of one of the train's cars ablaze with sparks flying, raising questions about why the crew wasn't aware of the malfunction.

Fingers are being pointed at Norfolk Southern, the train's operator, for helping lobby against railroad safety regulations that could have mitigated the impacts of the crash. A new lawsuit aims to get the company to pay for medical examinations for locals in case of long-term health impacts associated with the leaked chemicals.

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Norfolk Southern Railway is also offering residents free air quality readings inside their homes and also said it will reimburse residents for costs incurred during the evacuation.

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