USA (bbabo.net) - In the US state of Ohio, authorities are trying to assess the consequences of the explosion of several tanks of vinyl chloride, which occurred a week ago in the derailment of a freight train. Animals have begun to die at the accident site, and there is a mass kill of fish in the rivers.

A Norfolk Southern train with more than 100 carriages derailed near the city of Eastern Palestine on February 3. The train included about 20 wagons with hazardous substances, of which ten derailed. At the same time, five wagons were transporting vinyl chloride. A large-scale fire broke out at the accident site, during which phosgene, a gas that was used during the First World War as a chemical weapon, was released into the air. It attacks the lungs and causes suffocation.

The state authorities announced the evacuation of residents. However, the consequences have already gone beyond the accident site, since the Ohio River was poisoned during the spill of chemicals, from which about 5 million people take water. It should be noted that further Ohio flows into the main water artery of the United States - the Mississippi.

“In the US, 30 million people, or about 10% of the US population, as well as pets and livestock, may be at risk due to the consequences of an explosion in the state of Ohio that derailed a train carrying hazardous chemicals,” Police frequency said in a statement.

CNN reports that fish and frogs have already died in local reservoirs; dead chickens, dogs and foxes have been reported on social networks. At the same time, officials say that there is no danger to health. Also supposedly suitable for consumption and drinking water.

US Congressman Jamaan Bowman tweeted that there were 500,000 kg of vinyl chloride in the wagons. He called the accident one of the worst environmental disasters in decades.

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