Entire Kentucky town ordered to evacuate after train derails, chemical spill

A train derailed and released a chemical in a remote area of eastern Kentucky on Wednesday, prompting officials to advise residents of a small town to evacuate due to concerns about air quality. Governor Andy Beshear said that local officials in Rockcastle County were recommending evacuation for residents of Livingston, a town with a population of about 200. Reports from news outlets indicated that a shelter was made available at a local middle school. The derailment involving a minimum of 16 cars occurred around 2:30 p.m., as reported by Bryan Tucker, a spokesperson for the railroad operator CSX. Two of the derailed cars were carrying molten sulfur, which ignited after the cars were breached, according to Tucker’s emailed statement. As of late Wednesday, the company was still working to extinguish the fire. It’s believed that the fire is releasing sulfur dioxide, but the amount won’t be confirmed until measurements are taken from air monitoring equipment that was being deployed Wednesday night, Tucker said. According to the Environmental Protection Agency website, sulfur dioxide can cause respiratory problems, depending on the concentration and length of exposure. The gas is commonly produced by burning fossil fuels at power plants and other industrial processes, the EPA says. John Mura, a spokesman for the state Energy and Environment Cabinet, said he didn’t have further information on the quantity of chemicals released. WKYT-TV reported that one crew member was treated at the scene for minor injuries. Beshear declared a state of emergency in the county. “By issuing a state of emergency, we are ensuring that every state resource is available to help keep our families safe,” Beshear said. He urged people to avoid the area to allow state and local officials to respond. With inputs from AP.