US /

Ohio Residents Return Home After Chemical Leak Contained

Evacuation order lifted; schools and roads reopened in Whitewater Township
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Sep 26, 2024 11:45 AM CDT
Ohio Residents Return Home After Chemical Leak Contained
Firefighters work on the scene of a chemical leak in railcars near Cleves, Ohio, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024.   (Local 12/WKRC via AP)

Residents of Whitewater Township, Ohio, have been permitted to return home following the containment of a hazardous chemical leak. The evacuation was prompted on Tuesday when styrene, a toxic and flammable substance used in plastics and rubber manufacturing, began seeping from a railcar. Local authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of anyone within a half-mile radius of US Route 50 and the Great Miami River as a safety measure, leading to the closure of several local schools.

The evacuation mandate was rescinded on Wednesday night, and previously closed roads were subsequently reopened. Schools resumed operations on Thursday. The Central Railroad of Indiana confirmed that efforts to cool the leaking railcar had ceased the venting by Wednesday morning, and the railcar was safely removed without incident. Environmental monitoring continues to ensure air and water quality, with styrene posing potential short-term risks like headaches and nausea, and long-term dangers including organ damage. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X