Trains carrying hazardous materials continue to derail around the country - is the U.S. under attack?
By jdheyes // 2023-02-19
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Another train carrying hazardous chemicals has jumped the tracks, this time in Michigan. The train is operated by Norfolk Southern, the same rail line that operated the train that derailed outside East Palestine, Ohio, earlier this month, spewing tons of toxic liquid and smoke into the atmosphere and the local water table, causing fish and livestock such as chickens to die and scores of residents to report getting ill. “There is no evidence of exposed hazardous materials, as no train cars containing hazardous materials were compromised,” Van Buren Township police officials said in a statement on social media Thursday. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) issued a statement confirming the derailment, adding that the train was carrying hazardous materials as well. “We are also in touch with the relevant federal authorities, including the EPA,” Dingell told local media outlets on Thursday. “At this time, no one is aware of the release of any hazardous materials, the car carrying hazardous material has been put upright and is being removed from the area of the other derailed cars, and [the Environmental Protection Agency] is dispatching a team to ensure public safety,” she added. Dingell said her office is currently “in touch with Supervisor Kevin McNamara, the Van Buren Fire Department, and other local officials regarding the train derailment in Van Buren Township.” She added: "We will continue to monitor the situation very closely and remain in touch with federal, state, and local officials, and release additional information as it becomes available.” The Feb. 3 incident in East Palestine happened so suddenly that most of the people in the town were caught off-guard. Reports said the train was on its way to a nearby chemical plant, and it was carrying a variety of dangerous substances. As it approached a curve in the tracks, the train suddenly went off the rails and crashed into a nearby embankment. The impact was so strong that several of the train cars burst open, spilling their contents all over the surrounding area. Reports noted that police, EMS, and fire trucks quickly converged on the site, but responders were taken aback by the extent of the damage. The train had been carrying highly toxic chemicals, including chlorine gas and sulfuric acid, both of which are known to be incredibly dangerous. As emergency services attempted to assess the situation and seek out victims, they quickly realized that the situation was much worse than they had initially thought. Many of the train cars were still burning, and the spilled chemicals were beginning to spread across the surrounding area. The fumes were so noxious that people in the surrounding neighborhoods were instructed to stay indoors and keep their windows closed. Earlier this week in Arizona, a truck carrying nitric acid suddenly lost control and overturned, spilling its dangerous contents all over the road. As the first responders arrived on the scene, they were met with the overwhelming smell of the toxic acid. The fumes were so strong that they could be felt from several miles away, authorities reported. As the truck lay on its side, the acid began to seep out, spreading quickly and dangerously across the surrounding area. The Tucson Fire Department noted in a statement personnel were helping "control the hazmat and brush fire incidents" at the crash site. The extent of injuries and whether other vehicles were involved were not revealed, nor was the accident's cause or scope of the spill. So many incidents in such a short amount of time have led some analysts to believe the country is under some kind of attack, as noted by the DC Draino Twitter account this week. Sources include: NTD.com Reuters.com WXYZ.com
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