Ohio train derailment: Residents seek answers, accountability in aftermath

At least five hazardous chemicals were released into the surrounding area after a train derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border. The controlled burn of the chemicals, authorized by the governor, led to a massive toxic plume over East Palestine that could be seen from miles away and from planes flying above.

Residents have been cleared to return, but some reported sightings of dead fish and anecdotal evidence of sick animals are causing concern. Some are comparing the incident to the Chernobyl disaster. No related animal deaths have been confirmed, state officials said, adding that confirmation would require necropsies and lab work to determine the connection to the incident.

Ohio officials believe the situation is far from the level of severity being expressed by some online. They say the air quality is safe and that tests on local drinking water show no signs of contamination. However, there are calls for accountability for Norfolk Southern, the company behind the derailed train. CBS reports that the train company’s own employees were concerned about what they believe was the train’s excessive size. They say the train broke down before it derailed in Ohio.

Norfolk Southern skipped a recent town hall meeting to address residents, citing fears of physical threats. This has left the questions of the people in East Palestine to state and federal officials. At the town hall, one man asked Mayor Trent Conaway, “Where’s Pete Buttigieg? Where’s he at?” The mayor told attendees that Tuesday was the first time he had “heard anything from the White House.”

In an interview with Yahoo Finance, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said there’s more that needs to be done.

“While this horrible situation has gotten a particularly high amount of attention, there are roughly 1,000 cases a year of a train derailing,” Buttigieg said.

The suspected cause of the derailment is a mechanical issue with a rail car axle. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it has video appearing to show a wheel bearing overheating just beforehand. The NTSB said it expects to issue its preliminary report in about two weeks.

The Associated Press contributed to this story