Kentucky Train Derailment Spills Molten Sulfur
A morning freight train derailment in rural western Kentucky briefly forced nearby residents indoors after a car carrying molten sulfur began leaking, officials say. Around 7 a.m. Thursday, about 30 rail cars from a CSX train derailed in Todd County, prompting authorities to issue a half-mile shelter-in-place order. The restriction was lifted four hours later, according to Fox News. Residents were told to turn off their HVAC systems despite freezing temperatures, WSMV reports.
Aerial footage showed several rail cars lying on their sides near fields outside the small city of Trenton. Officials said one car was leaking molten sulfur, a heated liquid used in industrial processes like fertilizer production. Hazmat crews covered the damaged cars with dirt and built a barrier to contain the sulfur, WSMV reports.
The Environmental Protection Agency warns that molten sulfur can cause serious burns and, if disturbed, release gases such as sulfur dioxide or hydrogen sulfide that can irritate the respiratory system. Ash Groves, emergency management director for Todd County, said air quality tests at the site cleared the area, allowing authorities to lift the shelter-in-place order. No injuries were reported, the AP adds.
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