A chemical gas leak from a tanker car near Cincinnati sparked fears of an explosion and prompted orders to evacuate people within at least a half-mile of the incident.
About 210 homes in Whitewater Township, about 22 miles (35 kilometers) west-northwest of Cincinnati in an area near the city’s airport and the Kentucky state line, were under evacuation orders, authorities said Tuesday night.
A colorless, odorless gas leaking from the tanker truck at State Route 128 and U.S. Route 50 was reported to first responders shortly after 1 p.m., Little Miami Joint Fire and Rescue District Chief Mike Siefke said at two news conferences.
Authorities determined the chemical in question was styrene, he said. It is used in the production of plastic, rubber, fiberglass and other building materials.
By Wednesday morning, “the car was no longer moving,” said John Keffer, a spokesman for the Central Railroad of Indiana.
“We are still working with professionals to ensure the safety of the community and emergency responders,” Keffer told reporters Wednesday morning. “Air quality is still being monitored and tested as we speak.”
Other residents have been placed under quarantine orders, authorities said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the chemical can irritate the respiratory system, cause headaches, and disorient those who breathe it. Long-term exposure has been linked to some forms of cancer, the CDC says, but it is not known to be directly fatal.
The danger to the community is that the tank of the car is heating up and could explode if it continues, Siefke said. Firefighters have been dousing the container with water to try to reverse the temperature rise, he said.
“It’s going to be a very long event,” Siefke said.
Environmental officials conducted parts-per-million measurements in the community to determine the impact of the leak, he said.
Some residents may have sought treatment for unknown illnesses, but the number of patients and the exact nature of their potential injuries have not been confirmed, he said.
The area’s public schools, the Three Rivers Local School District, suspended classes early Tuesday and canceled classes and all activities scheduled for Wednesday, according to the district’s website.
Authorities have not yet determined who owned the car or its cargo, officials said Tuesday night. A Central Railroad of Indiana spokesman said in a statement that it was cooperating with first responders.
State Route 128 and U.S. Route 50, which carry motorists from coast to coast, were closed in both directions near the site, the state Department of Transportation said.
Whitewater Township and Hamilton County officials said the situation is likely to remain static overnight pending comment from environmental agencies.
“We’re waiting for the partners who are mitigating this problem to come up with a strategy,” said Andrew Knapp, Hamilton County’s communications director.
