A chemical spill in Hamilton County, Ohio, led to an emergency evacuation on Tuesday (September 24). The spill was caused by an open valve on a train car, which leaked styrene, a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor. The leak was not due to a train derailment but rather a valve that was left open on a train car, according to an official with the Hamilton County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.
The leak forced an immediate evacuation for anyone within a half-mile radius of the area, affecting residents in Cleves and Whitewater Township. The Hamilton County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency alerted residents about the emergency via a Facebook post. Shortly after the initial alert, people in the area were told to immediately evacuate and leave the area of US-50 and State Route 128 “in any direction.”
Mike Siefke, Chief of the Little Miami Joint Fire & Rescue District, confirmed that there have been no reports of any injuries from the chemical leak. As of Tuesday night, the leak had stopped, and the rail car had been separated from the other cars on the train. Firefighters were seen dousing the train car with water to keep it cool.
A shelter was opened at the Whitewater Township Community Center for those who needed to evacuate. All surrounding roads, including U.S. 50, were shut down, and all stores in the area, including a local Kroger, were closed.
Authorities did not provide an estimated timeframe for when the spill will be cleaned up enough for people to return to their homes. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has been called in to assist with the cleanup process.
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