White House urges Ohio residents to evacuate near chemical spill | Ohio

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were briefed on Wednesday about the dangerous chemical leak from a train car near Cincinnati, Ohio, that has led to the evacuation of school buildings and homes.

The White House announced that the US president was notified on Tuesday of the styrene leak from a parked rail car in Whitewater Township, near Cleves, on the outskirts of Cincinnati. The White House said: “Officials from the Federal Railroad Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency are on the scene to assist with hazardous materials operations and air quality testing.

“The president has instructed his team to provide all necessary resources. We urge residents to heed the warnings of emergency personnel, especially those who have been instructed to evacuate,” it added.

And a White House official said Harris, the US vice president and the Democratic nominee for president in the November election, was cooperating with officials and that she and Biden “urge residents to heed the warnings of emergency personnel, especially those who have been ordered to evacuate”.

Aerial footage showed firefighters cleaning the car, which was parked upright on the tracks between a highway and an asphalt plant.

Authorities said a pressure relief valve was leaking styrene, a toxic and flammable chemical used to make plastic and rubber. It can cause headaches, nausea and breathing problems, and prolonged exposure can lead to more serious health problems, including organ damage.

Anyone within a half-mile radius of the area was advised to leave immediately. Residents just outside the evacuation zone were told by authorities to stay indoors and keep their windows closed.

Three school buildings were evacuated and all after-school activities were canceled, said Lisa Whiteley, a spokesperson for the local Three Rivers school district.

Tom Ciuba, spokesman for Central Railroad of Indiana, the railroad’s operating company, said the company received a report Tuesday afternoon of styrene escaping from a rail car near Cleves.

On Tuesday, Little Miami Joint Fire and Rescue District Chief Mike Siefke said, “This is going to be a long, long event,” adding that no injuries have been reported.

In addition, Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, and J.D. Vance, a Republican and vice presidential nominee, said they were closely monitoring the leak.

Last year, a train derailment on the other side of Ohio in East Palestine caused dangerous chemicals to leak and burn for days. The February 2023 derailment led to new safety rules and stricter regulations.

The Associated Press contributed to the reporting