Shelter in place issued and 1,500 are without power after ANOTHER Norfolk Southern trail derails, this time in Springfield, Ohio – as governor says they don’t ‘believe’ any hazardous materials were on board
- Residents urged to seek shelter after Norfolk Southern train is derailed in Ohio
- The company says nobody is injured and no hazardous materials involved – though 1,500 residents are left without power
- It comes after a Norfolk Southern train sparked a massive fire after it was derailed one month ago
A Norfolk Southern train was derailed in Ohio on Saturday, just two days after the scandal-hit firm’s CEO failed to show up to a meeting to discuss another fiery crash last month.
More than 1,500 Clark County residents were left without power after the derailment and locals within 1,000-feet of the scene were told to shelter in place ‘out of an abundance of caution,’ officials said.
The freight railroad company claims there were no hazardous materials involved – but first responders and emergency officials remain on scene to ‘confirm their report.’
Nobody is thought to have been injured and no evacuation orders have yet been made. Hazmat crews are said to be on the scene.
Ohio governor Mike DeWine told his Twitter followers on Saturday night that ‘we don’t believe hazardous materials were on-board.’
A Norfolk Southern train was derailed in Ohio on Saturday as officials urged residents to seek shelter
Drone footage captured on Saturday evening captures the extent of the crash. Norfolk Southern says no hazardous materials were involved
Some 1,500 Clark County residents have been left without power as a result of the derailment
He added that both President Biden and and transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg had called to ‘offer help from the federal government.’
Approximately 20 cars of a 212-car train derailed while travelling through Springfield.
It comes after another Norfolk Southern train was derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 3
It sparked huge fires and the release of hazardous chemicals which forced thousands of residents to evacuate.
The firm’s CEO Alan Shaw – who earns $4.5 million a year for the role – has faced backlash for his handling of the disaster. Renowned activist Erin Brockovich called it a ‘cover-up’ this week.
A Facebook post for Clark County said that its emergency management agency was asking residents within 1,000 feet of a train derailment ‘to shelter-in-place out of an abundance of caution.’
The crash happened at Ohio 41, near the Prime Ohio Business Park. Motorists who needed to travel to Ohio 41 were urged to find other routes on Saturday evening.
Locals and state officials were on the scene, including the Springfield Fire Rescue Division and the Springfield Police Department.
The county posted an update at 7.55pm to state: ‘We have issued no evacuation orders at this time. More than 1,500 residents are without power in Clark County.’
A second update at 8.50pm said: ‘Norfolk Southern has told authorities that hazardous materials are not involved in this incident.
‘First responders and emergency officials are currently working at the site to confirm their report.’
A spokesman for Norfolk Southern said: ‘This evening, approximately 20 cars of a 212-car Norfolk Southern train derailed while traveling Southbound in the vicinity of Springfield, Ohio.
A scene from the derailment is pictured on Saturday night
Approximately 20 cars of a 212-car Norfolk Southern train derailed while traveling Southbound
Twitter users were quick to share photos of the wreckage. Nobody is thought to have been injured
Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, who earns $4.5 million for his role, has faced backlash for his handling of a fiery derailment in East Palestine on February 3
‘No hazardous materials are involved and there have been no reported injuries. Our teams are en route to the site to begin cleanup operations.’
It spells further bad news for Norfolk Southern which is still grappling with the fall-out from the East Palestine crash.
Residents there claim they have suffered from projectile vomiting, headaches and skin rashes after being exposed to the toxic chemicals as a result of the derailment.
On Thursday CEO Shaw failed to turn up to a town meeting to discuss next actions – prompting residents to heckle ‘where’s Alan?’
It is the second time he has been a no-show at the meetings.
His representative was left to face the music alone, telling the crowd the company ‘feels horrible’ about the crash.
Erin Brockovich – who was played by Julia Roberts in a 2000 film about her activism – launched a blistering attack on the firm’s handling of the disaster.
She labelled it a ‘classic cover-up,’ before adding ‘something is not right here.’
The US Environmental Protection Agency is now requiring Norfolk Southern to test for dioxin levels in the area – though the agency says its analysis indicates the likelihood of pollutants being present following the accident is low.
The derailment of the Norfolk Southern train one month ago in the town of East Palestine caused a massive fire and prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents
Amid the train crash hazardous materials were released into the air, soil and nearby surface waters on Feburary 3
Norfolk Suffolk CEO has come under scrutiny for failing to show up to two town meetings in East Palestine to discuss the crash. East Palestine, Ohio, is pictured on February 3
Authorities have also promised a full investigation and ordered Norfolk Southern to pay for the cleanup.
But residents are especially fearful their air, soil and water has been contaminated following the controlled release of the toxic vinyl chloride to avoid a possible explosion.
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