A train derailed near the border between Ohio and Pennsylvania, causing a massive fire, prompting local officials to ask people to evacuate.
The train derailed on the evening of February 3 in the town of East Palestine in the US state of Ohio, near the border with Pennsylvania. Local authorities asked people living in an area with a radius of 1.6 km from the evacuation site to the shelter at East Palestine High School.
It is not yet clear what casualties were involved in the accident, what caused the train to derail, and the type of cargo carried.
Fire and smoke rise from the scene of a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, USA on January 3. Video: KDKA-TV.
Video and photos of the scene show flames and a large plume of smoke rising from the location of the train crash. Channel KDKA-TV According to the US, the fire created a plume of smoke so large that it could be seen on weather radar.
Northfolk Southern Railway Company, which operates the train, said it was aware of the accident and was “working closely with the first responders and the company’s incident response team”.
The town of East Palestine in the US state of Ohio has an area of about 8.2 square kilometers with a population of more than 4,700 people. The town is located about 82 kilometers northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. East Palestine is located next to the South Northfolk railway line and has a freight station.
Location East Palestine town in the state of Ohio, USA. Graphics: Google.
Nguyen Tien (Theo Reuters, AP)