The accident, which caused an environmental disaster when the train carrying toxic chemicals in the US state of Ohio derailed on February 3, is described by the locals as the “Chernobyl of the Eastern Palestine town”
Worried about the consequences of the chemical disaster, residents of the eastern Palestinian town spoke to the BBC. Town shopkeepers John and Lisa Hamner claimed that the environmental disaster had “destroyed” their lives.
She couldn’t control her tears
Unable to hold back his tears while expressing his emotions, John described the accident that led to the chemical disaster as the “Chernobyl of the Eastern Palestine town”. John said, “I’m in a place I don’t want to be right now. We can’t do it like that, we’re going to move.”
Pointing out that the main effects and wounds of the chemical disaster in the town are psychological, John said, “I’m sleepy. I went to the doctor twice and I take anxiety pills. This is 10 times worse than losing my livelihood.”
Lisa, on the other hand, stated that she could not sleep because of her concerns about the town where they spent 20 years, 10 employees and their businesses. Noting that some of her customers have stopped doing business with them, Lisa stated that some people are considering leaving the town of Eastern Palestine.
Lisa said, “I’m worried about the people living here. There are so many things. I don’t know anyone who can sleep. The health of your job, your health, your friends…”
Breaking point
Other residents told the BBC that the incident of February 3 would be remembered as a “major disaster”, emphasizing that the accident was an important breaking point for the town’s history. “This is Pearl Harbor for the town, or 9/11. One of those things the people talk about all the time,” said Ben Ratner, a local cafe operator.
Ratner noted that stress and trauma, interestingly, cause different emotions in him.
Stating that his friends in the town are constantly panicking and on the alert, Ratner said, “We need to look at the long-term emotional and psychological effects of this event. People worry when they hear the sound of the train, their children go out, or if dogs accidentally drink contaminated water outside. This is very serious. This has been for generations. “This is something bigger than chemical gas or a big cloud,” he said.
Federal and local officials advise residents to “consume boiled water.”
EPA tries to control pollution
Michael Regan, director of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), met with local officials during his visit to the region yesterday and received information about the accident. “We see and hear you and understand your concerns,” Regan said of residents.
EPA Ohio unit and state officials stated that oil holding barriers were placed in waterways to control pollution caused by chemical spills, and polluted soil and water were tried to be cleaned by aeration method.
“Chemical disaster” controversy in Ohio
In the environmental disaster that occurred on February 3, on the railway near the Eastern Palestine town of the US state of Ohio, explosions occurred after 50 wagons of the 150 wagon train carrying chemicals were derailed. After the explosions, it was decided to evacuate the residents of the region due to the spread of high amounts of toxic chemicals in the environment. After the incident, there were reports in the media that the residents of the region had complaints such as headaches, burning eyes, coughing and weakness, as well as deaths in animals. The New York Post newspaper also wrote that the amount of toxic chemicals carried by the train was well above what was announced.
The police arrest of the reporter who followed the press statement of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on the event further inflamed the “chemical disaster” discussions.
In the statement made by the White House yesterday, it was stated that the federal agency EPA is working with state officials in the region, the US President Joe Biden administration is closely following the accident, and is in contact with local authorities to meet the needs.
The people of the Eastern Palestine town with a population of approximately 4,700, where the accident took place, expressed their distrust of the authorities’ statements at a general meeting yesterday, and called for transparency to the authorities by expressing their concerns about many issues such as the smoke cloud that continues in the region, the odor that has become permanent and the safety of drinking water. .
The residents of the town stated that they were not satisfied with the official statements and criticized the authorities, especially the Ministry of Transport and the train company Norfolk Southern, with a harsh language.