National Guard activated to help town as derailment smolders

Aptopix Train Derailment Ohio
This photo taken with a drone shows portions of a Norfolk and Southern freight train that derailed Friday night in East Palestine, Ohio are still on fire at mid-day Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The Associated Press

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) – Officials are working to prevent any major explosion from the smoldering wreckage of an Ohio train derailment near the Pennsylvania state line.

The village of East Palestine said Monday morning authorities are now enforcing what previously was a strongly recommended evacuation zone within a mile of the site.

On Sunday night, the governor’s office warned hundreds of nearby residents who had declined to evacuate to do so immediately, citing concerns about a potential explosion from a rail car that was being monitored.

The office’s statement didn’t specify what was in that car. The Ohio National Guard was activated to help the village, where schools and businesses were closed.

Read the full story on AP News right here.

(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

2/6/2023 9:00:33 AM (GMT -6:00)

Categories: Regional and US News