East Palestine train derailment: Officials perform controlled release of toxic ... trends now
Another round of evacuation orders was ordered Monday ahead of the controlled release of toxic substances inside cars at the site of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Crews at the scene conducted the release of the hazardous chemicals from five of the derailed tanker cars that were in danger of exploding just after 3.30pm.
According to local officials, two of the five cars that were detonated were completely polymerized in the incident.
One of the major causes for concern was the presence of vinyl chloride inside the five train cars detonated. The substance is highly toxic and can cause acid burns in the lungs when ingested.
This was the explosion caused by the controlled release of the toxic chemicals at the site of the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio
Local officials strategically detonatedthe five train cars with vinyl chloride
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine had previously issued a grave warning to residents in the city that sits near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, saying the fallout could be drastic for those who choose not to heed the warnings.
'You need to leave, you just need to leave. This is a matter of life and death,' said DeWine at a press conference.
'Vinyl chloride in of itself is cancerous. Some of the other stuff is just as bad,' hazardous materials specialist Silverio Caggiano told WKBN.
'The hydrogen chloride is bad enough that when you inhale it, it mixes with the water in your lungs and you could have acid burns in your lungs,' Caggiano said.
Another major cause for concerns is that the burning on the substances released from the train cars will send phosgene- a highly toxic gas that can cause vomiting and breathing trouble- into the air.
The substance is so dangerous it was used as a weapon during World War I.
After the controlled release of the toxic chemicals began, officials said two of the train cars were completely pulverized.
Before the release of the toxic chemicals began Monday, officials were knocking on doors to ensure all residents had evacuated.
Some 2,400 residents were warned to leave immediately.
The explosion completely pulverized two of the train cars
Photos and videos could only be taken from a distance outside of the evacuation zone
This was the original site after the crash Friday evening
This was the massive plume of smoke over East Palestine, Ohio Monday after a train carrying hazardous materials derailed in eastern Ohio
The fire and smoke has been constant in the area since Friday evening after the crash
This is the evacuation map released by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's office
'You need to leave, you just need to leave. This is a matter of life and death,' said Gov. DeWine at a press conference
Another view of the massive plume of smoke coming from the train derailment in Ohio
DeWine shared an updated map showing the evacuation zone Monday afternoon
East Palestine is located right near the border of Ohio and Pennsylvania
