Ohio train derailment: Explosion sparks the start of 'controlled release' in East Palestine

With concerns of a potential explosion connected to the train derailment in Columbiana County, a "controlled release" of chemicals inside the railroad cars has begun on Monday afternoon.

It came as Gov. Mike DeWine said the contents of five rail cars are “currently unstable and could potentially explode, causing deadly disbursement of shrapnel and toxic fumes.”

The apparent release occurred around 4:30 p.m., with residents and 3News reporters reporting a large explosion along with a massive plum of smoke billowing to the sky.

So how does the controlled release work? Scott Deutsch, an official with the Norfolk Southern Railroad, said it's a process that could take one to three hours.

Deutsch said it begins by creating a small hole in the tank car.

“This will allow the material to come out of the tank car," the official explained. "It will go into a pit and trench that we have dug and set up for this operation. Inside that trench will be flares lining that trench that then will light off the material.”

Just over an hour into the controlled release, smoke still covered the skies in Columbiana County.

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At 3News, we’re not here to tell you the news, we’re here to share the stories that you say matter most to you. Share your ideas, thoughts, concerns and engage in conversations about the communities in which we all call home.

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[rickiex]

This is so an environmental major with a chemistry minor...the chemical that caused the explosion is highly toxic....it's vinyl chloride, it's the main ingredient for PVC(polyvinyl chloride). Just a little exposure, especially from breathing will cause name it. This is a catastrophe on multiple levels, the governor should declare a state of emergency and evacuate everyone in the area.

[xiaox]

the most strange thing is that no media follows this any more.

[bakerfam]

They need to declare state of emergency. Insane there’s not national coverage on this. . . So many will suffer for generations from this

[bradsanders]

"controlled" is used very loosely here.
To assure the locals they have it all well in hand.

Looks a lot like Mount Doom.

[teddyjackson]

What an enormous crime perpetrated by authorities. Unbelievable.

[showbizjosh]

The people in that area need to go see a doctor right away to document their current health. Get EVERYTHING documented so in the event years down the road, if something changes, they have something to use as a reference to prove that certain conditions were not pre-existing conditions.

[kevinc]

As an East Palestine homeowner in the evacuation zone.... THIS SUCKS

And yes, I plan on suing the pants off of Norfolk Southern

[dthendrick]

Crazy the lack of coverage this is getting, giving Chernobyl vibes with the lies and cover up that seem to be happening.

[jaredmcgrath]

My dad worked for Canadian pacific RR for 42 years, started doing work in the yards, track inspector, Forman etc. The two things he ALWAYS stressed was, 1. NEVER pull up close to a crossing whether it has crossing arms or not, stay back 50 yards at minimum, because if it derails at a crossing, it’s taking you out with it. 2. If only the general public had the slightest clue what is being hauled in these tankers through their towns, it would absolutely TERRIFY them.

[dwetick]

GET OUT...GET OUT as fast as you can !!!! VINYL CHLORIDE IS WHAT KILLED MY BROTHER AGE 50. He had to go onto those tankers to do welding repairs.

[jocelynlewis]

I live in Cleveland- an hour and 1/2 away. 90 miles away. This hasn’t been on the news.

[jonredd]

And my car wouldn't pass inspection because my O2 sensor was bad!🤷🏼‍♂️

[Ironface]

Man that's alot of widespread pollution for a "controlled release", I wonder who told them to call it that?

[homelessjesse]

Mainstream media completely buried this. But why?

[tinymetaltrees]

Remember, it’s important that you eat bugs to save the environment.

[sal]

Norfolk Southern should be held accountable for this derailment but we know they won't. They've been absolutely hellbent on pursuing operating ratios to please Wall Street leeches, and this is evidence of excessive cuts. Of course the railroad will hang this on the crew operating the train and management will get their bonuses. After all Norfolk Southern's diluted earnings per share were $3.42 in Q4/22, up 10%, or $0.30 compared with Q4/21. And that's all that matters.

[MrBlessed]

My DEEPEST condolences to the poor people who live in this area, their animals, crops etc.This is a tragedy.

[crimadellaphone]

Ehhh. Burning chemicals is not a "controlled release"- it just puts toxic chemicals in the air where they can spread farther faster.

[jamesdowis]

At least someone is covering this as far as tv media goes. No coverage shows how much influence the rail industry has.

[dmcentYT]

Documentary will be made in the future about how this was the absolute worst decision made.