Kentucky Chemical Spill Update as Train Derailment Sparks State of Emergency

The governor of Kentucky declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, after a cargo train derailed in Rockcastle County, causing a fire with the potential to produce toxic emissions and prompting the evacuation of two nearby towns.

Andy Beshear signed an executive order to allow for the activation of state-level resources, including Kentucky's emergency management agency and the National Guard, according to a statement, in which he said: "We are ensuring that every state resource is available to help keep our families safe."

Officials have called for residents of the city of Livingston, to the south of the derailment site, and the surrounding areas to evacuate. Local news station WKYT said those in Piney Branch, a town to the north of Livingston, had been asked to leave their homes.

Fears of toxic derailments have been heightened following a similar incident earlier in the year near the town of East Palestine, which occurred near the border between Ohio and Pennsylvania on February 3. It's still the site of a massive clean-up operation after a toxic spill contaminated the surrounding soil and nearby waterways.

In that incident, local residents were evacuated so that emergency responders could execute a controlled burn of five cars containing vinyl chloride—a chemical used in the manufacture of plastics—venting noxious gases and dioxins into the atmosphere, over fears they might explode.

Since being allowed to return home, East Palestine residents have complained of symptoms associated with exposure to toxic chemicals, despite monitoring by the EPA and contractors for the rail company, Norfolk Southern, showing safe readings.

In an update issued on Thursday, CSX, the rail operator responsible for the crashed train in Kentucky, said the derailment involved 16 cars, including two containing molten sulfur that "lost some of their contents which continue to burn."

"Specialized equipment has been deployed to conduct air monitoring in the area as molten sulfur is known to release sulfur dioxide when it burns," it added. "Our immediate focus is on safely extinguishing the fire."

Molten sulfur is flammable and can be known to release poisonous gases such as hydrogen sulfide, which is highly toxic and can affect the respiratory and nervous systems when inhaled. Sulfur itself can cause respiratory irritation, burns to the skin, as well as headaches, nausea and vomiting.

Sulfur dioxide is a severe irritant that can cause irritation to the respiratory system, eyes and skin.

CSX said there were two cars carrying magnesium hydroxide, which is considered minimally toxic, that derailed, but that there was "no indication" that they were breached in the crash. It added that the remaining cars that went off the tracks were either empty or carrying non-hazardous materials.

The train company said local emergency responders "worked through the night" to extinguish the fire, while it was covering the cost of food and lodging for affected residents. Given people were asked to evacuate their homes at this time, it is providing Thanksgiving dinner at a number of shelters.

Newsweek approached CSX via email for further comment on Thursday.

The Kentucky Governor's office said the state's Energy and Environment Cabinet Emergency Response Team was also on the scene.