Federal authorities release preliminary report on Norfolk Southern train derailment in Ohio

Federal proscription officials released a preliminary study Thursday examining the derailment of a Norfolk Southern bid carrying unsafe chemicals successful East Palestine, Ohio.

The preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board did not connection an nonstop origin of the derailment but outlined respective operational concerns.

According to the NTSB report, "Surveillance video from a section residence showed what appeared to beryllium a instrumentality bearing successful the last signifier of overheat nonaccomplishment moments earlier the derailment. The instrumentality bearing and affected wheelset person been collected arsenic grounds and volition beryllium examined by the NTSB."

Future investigative enactment volition absorption connected the wheelset and bearing, vessel car plan and attraction procedures, derailment damage, inspection practices and a reappraisal of the mishap response.

On Feb. 3 astatine astir 9 p.m., an eastbound Norfolk Southern freight bid derailed, including 11 vessel cars carrying hazardous materials that subsequently ignited. These chemicals included vinyl chloride, a highly flammable carcinogen. Thirty-eight railcars derailed successful the incident, according to the NTSB report.

Due to the anticipation of a catastrophic detonation that could person sent shrapnel up to a mile, Norfolk Southern carried retired a controlled release 3 days later.

The Thursday study comes the aforesaid time that Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited the site.

National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy and Director of the NTSB's Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Robert J. Hall volition clasp a property league Thursday day astatine the agency's Washington, D.C. headquarters.

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