Advertisement

Thousands of evacuees to return home after Tenn. train derailment

By Amy R. Connolly

MARYVILLE, Tenn., July 3 (UPI) -- Thousands of evacuees will likely be allowed to return home Friday, more than 24 hours after a freight train carrying a poisonous liquid derailed and burst into flames, sending plumes of toxic gas into the air and possibly the groundwater.

Maryville City Manager Greg McClain said some 5,000 displaced residents may slowly be allowed to return to their homes by late Friday after the CSX freight train derailment about 20 miles south of Knoxville, Tenn. McClain said the repopulation would begin with businesses and continue to neighborhoods, with those on the outer circle of the evacuation area returning first.

Advertisement

"We hope to have everyone home by tonight," McClain said Friday morning.

About 11:50 p.m. Wednesday, the train derailed carrying 24,000 gallons of the flammable, poisonous chemical acrylonitrile, commonly used in plastics. Some of the cars burst into flames, sending acrid plumes of smoke into the air. Residents and businesses within a two-mile area of the derailment were evacuated with no warning. Many left their homes leaving vital medications behind, not knowing how long they would be gone. CSX booked 460 rooms at 20 area hotels for displaced residents.

Advertisement

Officials said a broken axle on a single rail car caused the 57-car train to jump the tracks, igniting a fire that burned for 19 hours. Firefighters opted to let the fire burn the chemicals rather than be exposed to the acrylonitrile, which forms deadly cyanide gas when burned.

Nearly 90 people were treated at local hospitals, 36 admitted with complaints of respiratory problems, skin irritations, headaches and nausea. Five Blount County Sheriff's Office deputies and five Alcoa Police officers underwent decontamination and treatments after breathing in the toxic fumes.

Residents with well water are still being cautioned to avoid the water. Initial testing has not shown any contamination, but more testing needs to be done.

"We've been in the creeks," said Kevin Eichinger of the Environmental Protection Agency. "We believe it's contained to the release site."

The train was en route to Waycross, Ga., from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Latest Headlines