Train carrying over 30,000 gallons of propane derails in Florida
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Six box cars tipped over, including one carrying 30,000 gallons of propane, according to the Southern Manatee Fire District Chief Robert Bounds.
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Train derailment in Manatee County. (Manatee County Government)
Florida county officials report on Tuesday that five rail cars and two propane tankers have derailed in Manatee County.
The Manatee County Government said that emergency crews are on the scene of a train derailment involving five railcars and two propane tankers in the 7200 block of 16th Street East, adding that "no injuries nor leakage have been reported."
Manatee County Emergency Medical Services and Sheriff's Office personnel have been deployed.
🚨#BREAKING: Train carrying thousands of gallons of propane tank derails⁰⁰📌#ManateeCounty | #Florida
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) February 28, 2023
Currently Multiple authorities including Hazmat Crews are responding to a train derailment in Manatee county Florida. One of the tankers is carrying over 30,000 gallons of… https://t.co/lOC3WKhK4P pic.twitter.com/pOulxq9rmN
A statement said that the Manatee Public Safety personnel are clearing the tracks, which may be delayed due to the necessity of removing the propane from the downed tankers before they are moved.
The reasons behind what caused the train to derail weren't immediately clear, and crews will continue to monitor the situation. As part of the so-called controlled release, the chemicals inside the five rail cars were diverted and burnt, letting off toxic chemicals such as hydrogen chloride and phosgene into the environment.
A train hauling 20 cars with hazardous materials derailed on February 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. As a result of the derailment, a big fire erupted, leading to officials burning vinyl chloride inside five of the tanker cars to avoid a catastrophic explosion.
Earlier last month, after the worst ecological disaster hit Ohio on February 16, with the train derailment incident that caused a huge fire and the release of the toxic chemical vinyl chloride, Governor Mike DeWine invited evacuated residents to go back to their homes and drink from the polluted water, claiming it is "safe".
Residents of the town of East Palestine were evacuated when the derailment happened due to safety and health reasons. Animals died when the respiratory irritant toxin was largely released into the area.
Less than 2 weeks after the incident took place, Governor Mike DeWine assured the evacuated residents that the municipal water testing showed no sign of contamination.
It is worth noting that US President Joe Biden signed into law on December 2 a rare congressional intervention forcing rail unions to accept a salary agreement, avoiding a strike that has been called for, for quite some time.
