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The fire produced toxic smoke that engulfed the sleepy town of eastern Palestine and led to the evacuation of nearly 2,000 people.
Facing the risk of an explosion in five of the 50 derailed cars, authorities began the controlled release of various toxic products into the environment.
While officials say easing the problem and getting back to normal is something longterm, there are growing concerns about the environmental and health implications.
Former Ohio Fire Chief Silverio Caggiano compared the accident’s toxic aftermath to a “nuclear winter.”
That’s why many people on social media are treating the accident like a mini Chernobyl. But does this comparison make sense?
1 of 1 aerial photo shows a derailed train in Columbus, Ohio. Part of the freight train loaded with ethanol derailed and caught fire this Wednesday (11). — Photo: Doral Chenoweth III/The Columbus Dispatch/AP The aerial photo shows a derailed train in Columbus, Ohio. Part of the freight train loaded with ethanol derailed and caught fire this Wednesday (11). — Photo: Doral Chenoweth III/The Columbus Dispatch/AP
In this video, our US correspondent Mariana Sanches answers these and other questions about the tragedy with the help of Justin Colacino, a professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.