Ohio crews conduct a 'controlled release' of toxic chemicals from derailed train cars

https://www.npr.org/2023/02/06/ [login to see] /ohio-train-derailment
Crews in Ohio began to release hazardous chemicals from five cars of a train that derailed amid fears of a "catastrophic" explosion on Monday at the site near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.

What officials also called a "controlled explosion" began on Monday afternoon with reports of a loud boom and large plume of black smoke seen.

"We know the smoke looked alarming, but we are being told that everything was carried out according to plan," Pennsylvania's emergency management agency said on Monday evening.

The agency said environmental monitors had "detected nothing alarming" in air and water measurements. Pennsylvania's governor urged those within the evacuation zone to stay inside.

Scott Deutsch of Norfolk Southern Railroad said the release process entailed creating a small hole in each one of the tank cars and allowing substances to go down into a pit which is then lit on fire. "We are doing this so we control these tank cars that we have concerns with," Deutsch said on Monday.