Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky has announced a state of emergency in Rockcastle County due to a chemical spill caused by a multi-car train derailment on Wednesday. The train, operated by CSX, had around 16 cars involved in the incident, with two of them carrying molten sulfur that caught fire.
According to ABC News, the company stated “At approximately 2:23pm today, a CSX train derailed north of Livingston, KY. Preliminary information indicates that at least 16 cars were involved, including two molten sulphur cars that have been breached and have lost some of their contents which is on fire,”
The Governor's office posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) stating that one residence has been evacuated, and efforts are underway to evacuate additional homes.
Gov. Andy Beshear has declared a state of emergency following a multiple-car train derailment that occurred in Rockcastle County this afternoon.
Read more: https://t.co/F134NQ7xzb pic.twitter.com/mtSrYCWsl8— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) November 23, 2023
Gov. Andy Beshear urgently requested the 200 residents of Livingston to evacuate without delay. According to local media reports, a shelter has been set up at a nearby middle school.
According to the American Lung Association, inhaling sulfur dioxide can cause respiratory issues such as shortness of breath, and prolonged exposure can be hazardous to children, the elderly and those with asthma.
Reports indicate that the incident has affected around 15 train cars, with a number of them currently leaking. According to FOX56, one was carrying sulfur among the affected cars.
In March 2023, something similar occurred when a group of locks for a dam on the Ohio River in Kentucky had to be closed because of a "navigational incident." This incident happened after 10 barges were accidentally released from a tugboat, and one of those barges happened to be carrying 1,400 tons of a hazardous alcohol compound, as reported by ABC News.
Photo: nypost.com
(With Input from Reuters)
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