Chemical spill prompts evacuation order in Ohio city

CLEVES, Ohio (AP) — Students in school buildings and residents in nearby homes were told to evacuate after a dangerous chemical began leaking from a railcar Tuesday near Cincinnati.

Aerial footage showed firefighters spraying the car, which was sitting upright on the tracks between a freeway and an asphalt plant.

Authorities said a pressure relief valve on it was leaking styrene, a toxic and flammable chemical that is used to make plastic and rubber. It can cause headaches, nausea and breathing problems, and long-term exposure can lead to more serious health problems, including organ damage.

The Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency advised anyone within half a mile (about 800 meters) of the area near US Route 50 and the Great Miami River west of Cincinnati to leave immediately. Residents outside the evacuation zone were told to stay inside and keep their windows closed.

The area has a mix of businesses, homes and large areas of undeveloped land.

Three school buildings were evacuated and all after-school events were canceled, said Lisa Whiteley, spokeswoman for the Three Rivers Local School District.

Tom Ciuba, a spokesman for the Central Railroad of Indiana, said he was notified Tuesday afternoon of a car near Cleves that was discharging styrene. He said firefighters were on the scene and environmental response agencies were mobilized.

Last year, a train derailment on the opposite side of the Ohio in East Palestine, about 300 miles (480 kilometers) northeast of Cincinnati, caused hazardous chemicals to leak and burn for several days. The February 2023 derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line led to new safety rules and increased scrutiny by the rail industry and federal regulators.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

TOPICS
Ohio Chemicals