Barge carrying 1.4k tonnes of methanol partially submerged in Kentucky
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The incident occurred when a vessel towing 11 barges made contact with a stationary structure at the entrance to the Portland Canal.
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A picture shows the Ohio River in Lville after the incident (Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet)
The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet confirmed that a barge carrying 1,400 tonnes of the toxic methanol substance partially submerged in Louisville, Kentucky, due to a navigational incident.
"Emergency Response Team (ERT) at a barge incident on the Ohio River in Lville. 10 of 11 barges are loose from the tug. One carrying 1400 tons of methanol partially submerged at McAlpine Dam," the cabinet posted on Twitter.
Emergency Response Team (ERT) at a barge incident on the Ohio River in Lville. 10 of 11 barges are loose from the tug. One carrying 1400 tons of methanol partially submerged at McAlpine Dam. Nearest water intake is in Henderson. @USCG @kyfishwildlife @ORSANCOchannel pic.twitter.com/qyWJZkTYGg
— Kentucky EEC (@KentuckyEEC) March 28, 2023
The Louisville administration indicated that the incident occurred when a vessel towing 11 barges made contact with a stationary structure at the entrance to the Portland Canal near the McAlpine Lock and Dam.
"As a result, 10 of the 11 barges broke loose … The cargoes carried aboard the barges are soy, corn, and one vessel with three independent cargo holds containing approximately 1,400 metric tons of Methanol," the administration explained in a statement.
It claimed that currently, there is no threat of water contamination, adding that the authorities deployed air and water monitoring resources.
🚨 #BREAKING: Kentucky EEC Emergency Response Team (ERT) is on the scene of a crashed barge carrying 1,400 tons of toxic methanol that is submerged in the Ohio River.
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 28, 2023
Methanol is HIGHLY toxic and completely mixes with water. Municipal water intakes are just miles downstream. pic.twitter.com/0kUlgSXwxh
This is not the first incident involving toxic substances in the United States this year. In March, the media reported that a freight train carrying hazardous substances derailed near the town of Topock in Mohave County, Arizona.
Another railroad incident took place on February 3, when a Norfolk Southern train hauling 20 cars with hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio.
A big fire erupted due to the derailment, leading to officials burning vinyl chloride inside five of the tanker cars to avoid a catastrophic explosion.
The accident released toxic chemicals, including hydrogen chloride, phosgene, butyl acrylate, and ethylene, into the environment.
Despite being described as one of the worst ecological disasters to hit the #US, the train derailment in #Ohio isn't getting enough media coverage. Instead, suspected #UFOs are getting all the attention. pic.twitter.com/cRgZ19FyTF
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 15, 2023
Read more: Ohio sues Norfolk Southern over toxic chemicals release in train wreck
