According to authorities, a major fire broke out in a train accident in the US state of Ohio and small amounts of the highly toxic chemical vinyl chloride were released. The freight train was on its way to the neighboring state of Pennsylvania when 50 of its 140 wagons derailed near the town of East Palestine on Friday evening. Ten of them were loaded with hazardous goods, including five with vinyl chloride, as the NTSB traffic safety authority announced on Twitter last night (local time).
According to authorities, no one was injured. However, they urged all residents within a mile radius to leave their homes. In addition, a shelter order was issued for the entire city. “We cannot stress enough that we are asking everyone to stay away from the scene,” the East Palestine mayor wrote in a letter posted on Facebook.
Vinyl chloride is classified as a carcinogen by the US Cancer Institute. The gas is used to manufacture PVC plastic pipes, which are often used in plumbing. “We have not confirmed that vinyl chloride escaped — except through the pressure relief devices” installed in some cars, the NTSB said. These devices depressurize tankers to prevent explosions.
