Train carrying dangerous materials derailed, causing a big fire

Washington [US], February 5: The operator Norfolk Southern released a statement on February 4, saying the freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio at about 9 p.m. local time on February 3 (local time), while en route from Madison, Illinois to Conway, State. Pennsylvania , according to the AP news agency.
The cause of the derailment was not immediately clear, and there was no complete information on the loss of life and property.
"The fire broke out the length of the overturned carriages. The fire then decreased in intensity but was still not extinguished and the two main tracks remained blocked," said Michael Graham, a member of the AP. The US National Transportation Safety Board, told reporters on the evening of February 4.
CNN also quoted Mr. Graham as saying that about 50 of the more than 100 carriages overturned in the derailment, and that 20 of the overturned carriages contained "hazardous materials". Hazardous materials are defined as goods that can pose any type of hazard, "including flammable, combustible or environmental hazards".
According to Graham, several cars carrying vinyl chloride have overturned "and caught fire", as well as at least one "continuously releasing contents through a built-in pressure relief device". Information about the number of cars carrying vinyl chloride is conflicting: CNN says there are four, while AP gives 14.)
According to the U.S. federal government's National Cancer Institute, vinyl chloride is the compound used to make the hard plastic polyvinyl chloride, which is found in many types of plastic products. This compound has been linked to an increased risk of liver cancer and other cancers. Federal officials say they are also concerned about other potentially hazardous materials, according to the AP.
"At this point, we are working to determine if any carriages containing hazardous materials have leaked," Gramhay said. The US Environmental Protection Agency and Norfolk Southern are continuing to monitor air quality and investigators will begin their field work "when the scene is safe and secure".
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper