Smoke rises from a derailed freight train in eastern Palestine, Ohio, February 4, 2023. The train wreck sparked a massive fire and evacuation orders. DUSTIN FRANZ/AFP via Getty Images
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A train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio this month, releasing toxic chemicals.
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Some of the chemicals were intentionally released in a controlled burn.
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The residents of the small town were evacuated, and many now fear for their future.
Small-town residents fear for their future after toxic chemicals were burned from a derailed train in East Palestine, Ohio this month.
Officials conducted a “controlled burn” of vinyl chloride — a known carcinogen — being shipped through Ohio after a train carrying the chemicals derailed Feb. 3, NPR reported. The burn came after some of the derailed cars had already been ignited by the accident, the Washington Post reported.
According to the Post, about 1,500 residents – more than a quarter of East Palestine’s population – were evacuated during the fire.
But questions and concerns remain. Here’s the latest on the derailment and fire in East Palestine, including the aftermath and residents’ reactions.
The derailed train belonged to the Norfolk Southern Railway and contained about 150 cars.
Norfolk Southern Railway train travels through eastern PalestineGene J. Puskar/AP
Only a fraction of the train – just 20 of its 150 cars – carried hazardous materials such as vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate. According to NPR, 11 of about 40 of the derailed cars contained the chemicals.
The rest of the train was carrying supplies like cement, steel and vegetables, according to an inventory cited by NPR.
No one was injured in the crash, NPR reported.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a news conference this week the locomotive was not marked as a high-hazard train, according to CNN.
After the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, USA, on February 17, 2023, officials are continuing operations and inspecting the area Residents have to be evacuated for several days. US Environmental Protection Agency/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
“If that’s true — and I’ve been told it’s true — that’s preposterous,” DeWine said. “We should know when we have hazardous material trains running through the state of Ohio.”
Toxic chemicals were burned and released into the air, water and soil.
A plume of dark smoke rises from a train derailment in eastern Palestine, Ohio, where toxic chemicals were released, AP
The first crash, on February 3, resulted in a fire burning chemicals in derailed train cars, but more chemicals from a train car were later deliberately burned into the air after authorities began fearing an explosion could occur. reported NPR.
The car in question contained vinyl chloride, which produced a large plume of smoke that towered over eastern Palestine.
“The risk of the car exploding was described to me as high,” Gov. DeWine said at a news conference Tuesday.
The Environmental Protection Agency has since declared the air in eastern Palestine is safe to breathe, according to the Post.
Balloons are placed next to a sign displaying information for residents to receive air quality tests from the Norfolk Southern Railway February 16, 2023 in East Palestine, Ohio. On February 3, a Norfolk Southern Railways train carrying toxic chemicals derailed, causing an environmental disaster. Michael Swensen/Getty Images
However, the agency was still conducting water, soil and air tests as of Wednesday, according to CNN.
An air quality monitor hangs from a stop sign near the site of a train derailment that raised health concerns on February 17, 2023 in eastern Palestine, Ohio. On February 3, a Norfolk Southern Railways train carrying toxic chemicals derailed, causing an environmental disaster. Thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate after the area was placed under a state of emergency and temporary evacuation orders. Michael Swensen/Getty Images
gov. However, DeWine tweeted Wednesday that the water in eastern Palestine is now safe to drink.
Dean Logan, a Pepsi employee, delivers boxes of water for volunteers to distribute to residents February 17, 2023 in East Palestine, Ohio. On February 3, a Norfolk Southern Railways train carrying toxic chemicals derailed, causing an environmental disaster. Thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate after the area was placed under a state of emergency and temporary evacuation orders. Michael Swensen/Getty Images
“East Palestine: New water test results show no evidence of contaminants in East Palestine municipal water system,” he wrote. “With these test results, @OhioEPA is confident that the city’s water is safe to drink.”
Norfolk Southern has promised to clean up.
A train derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, over the weekend. Gene J. Puskar/AP
According to the Washington Post, Norfolk Southern Gov. DeWine promised the company would “pay for everything.” Gov. DeWine said he will hold the company accountable for the disaster, the Post reported.
Since the crash and resulting fires, Norfolk Southern has offered financial assistance to East Palestine and set up a $1 million charity fund for the city, the Post reported.
Neil Figley, 28, holds his daughter Harlie, 4, in line at the Norfolk Southern Assistance Center to collect a $1,000 check for reimbursement while they were being evacuated after a train derailment that occurred on February 17, 2023 in East led to health concerns Palestine, Ohio. On February 3, a Norfolk Southern Railways train carrying toxic chemicals derailed, causing an environmental disaster. Thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate after the area was placed under a state of emergency and temporary evacuation orders. Michael Swensen/Getty Images
In addition, Norfolk Southern said it paid more than $1.5 million to about 1,000 families displaced after the derailment, according to the Post.
Residents receive checks and reimbursements for $1000 in evacuation expenses from Norfolk Southern employees on February 17, 2023 in New Waterford, Ohio. On February 3, a Norfolk Southern Railways train carrying toxic chemicals derailed, causing an environmental disaster. Thousands of residents have been ordered to evacuate after the area was placed under a state of emergency and temporary evacuation orders. Michael Swensen/Getty Images
“I returned to Eastern Palestine today to meet with local guides, first responders and a group of Norfolk Southern employees who live in the area,” CEO Alan Shaw said in a statement. “I started the morning with a walk to the derailment site to see first-hand the progress of our clean-up efforts.”
He continued, “We are working closely with Ohio’s environmental and health authorities on the long-term plan to protect the environment and community. We will do the job thoroughly, completely and safely.”
Nonetheless, residents are looking to the future.
Hundreds of residents of East Palestine attended the town hall meeting at a local gym Gene J. Puskar/AP
For many residents of eastern Palestine, corporate promises and words of encouragement from governors don’t necessarily allay health and safety fears.
At a ward council meeting held in a high school gym this week, those fears bubbled to the surface.
“Why do people get sick when there’s nothing in the air or water?” cried one resident, according to Ideastream Public Media, to thunderous applause.
According to CNN, the EPA found chemical spills in waterways leading to the Ohio River but were contained and at low levels.
A cleanup crew works next to a creek as cleanup operations continue February 16, 2023 in East Palestine, Ohio. On February 3, a Norfolk Southern Railways train carrying toxic chemicals derailed, causing an environmental disaster. Michael Swensen/Getty Images
“Now that we’re entering a longer-term phase, people will be concerned about the long-term chronic exposure that occurs at lower levels,” Karen Dannemiller, a professor who studies air quality at Ohio State University, told NPR.
For some in eastern Palestine, the catastrophe hits a little too close to home.
Residents of East Palestine dine at Sprinklz on Top on February 16, 2023 in East Palestine, Ohio. On February 3, a Norfolk Southern Railways train carrying toxic chemicals derailed, causing an environmental disaster. Michael Swensen/Getty Images
In 2021, some residents of the city volunteered to take part in the production of the film “White Noise,” according to CNN. One of those residents, Ben Ratner, took part in a scene in which toxins were released into the air after a train and tanker truck crashed.
“The first half of the movie is almost exactly what’s going on here,” Ratner told CNN.
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