© Reuters.
By Kanishka Singh
(Reuters) – A train derailment that spilled molten sulfur in a remote area of eastern Kentucky on the eve of Thanksgiving disrupted holiday plans for local residents on Thursday, some of whom were forced to evacuate. after the incident.
The derailment occurred north of Livingston, a town of about 200 people, and involved 16 cars, including two carrying molten sulfur that spilled part of its cargo.
Railroad operator CSX (NASDAQ:) said in an emailed statement that the fire caused by the spilled sulfur was “completely extinguished.”
When molten sulfur burns, it can release sulfur dioxide, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says can cause serious irritation to the respiratory tract, eyes, mucous membranes and skin.
CSX said “specialized equipment” was deployed to conduct air monitoring in the area. The cause of the derailment was unclear.
The company said it will issue a statement later on whether residents should be encouraged to return home.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear had declared an emergency and local officials went door-to-door to evacuate some residents, who were moved to a school for safety.
“I was scared because I said, ‘We’re cooking, we have turkeys in the ovens. We can’t leave.’ They were like, ‘You have to leave, it’s a bad situation, you have to leave,'” Livingston resident Linda Todd told a CBS News affiliate.
Another resident, Evelyn Gray, told an NBC News affiliate that the chemical content released caused her to have an asthma attack.
“It hit me so hard I could barely breathe,” he said.
No fatalities or injuries associated with the derailment were reported.
The rail operator said it had secured hotels for those affected and was working with restaurants to provide meals and other needs.
