US authorities this Thursday tried to reassure the people of eastern Palestine, Ohio, who are expressing concerns about their health and asking for an explanation nearly two weeks after a train carrying a chemical product derailed.
“I want the public to know that they don’t have to deal with this matter alone (…). We will be there to help,” assured the head of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, the acronym in English), Michael Regan, who was in eastern Palestine in the northeastern part of the country this Thursday.
Regan said no records of vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride were detected after examining more than 480 homes.
The water was tested and retested “to make sure residents are protected,” he stressed, ensuring “a lot of transparency” but adding that he understands the “lack of confidence from residents.”
In Washington, Karine Jean-Pierre, spokeswoman for President Joe Biden, assured the US government has got a handle on the matter and “will hold responsibility with Norfolk Southern,” the railroad company that operated the train.
The accident, which occurred on February 3 in the village of East Palestine, Ohio, caused no direct casualties, but started a fire with a huge column of black smoke.
The derailed train was carrying vinyl chloride, a chemical used in the manufacture of plastic that is considered carcinogenic and highly flammable.
“They’re playing with our city. But they’ll fix what they’ve done”
Since then, an investigation into the causes of the accident has been launched and the matter has gained momentum as residents have raised concerns.
In reports to the media, residents indicate that they have various symptoms, such as headaches, but also fear of cancer within a few years.
About 3,500 fish also died in waterways in the region, according to the local natural resources office.
Authorities have marked the air as “safe” and assured that the municipal system’s water is “contaminant-free,” but are advising people who use water from private wells to test it.
Despite the reassuring words, residents who were allowed to return to their homes show their distrust.
Norfolk Southern even canceled participation in a community gathering, fearing “physical” violence against its employees.
The mayor of that town of less than 5,000, Trent Conaway, expressed anger, but also tiredness, in statements to journalists,
“They are playing with our city. But they will fix what they have done,” he insisted, but appealed for help due to “the lack of capacity to deal with the situation”.
Source: DN
