EPA, Residents Warn of Ecological Damage From Ohio Train Crash

Residents of East Palestine, Ohio and the Environmental Protection Agency are sounding the alarm on potential ecological damage after a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in the town earlier this month, despite authorities stating it is now safe for evacuated residents to return.

For Context: After the train derailed and exploded, responders initiated a controlled burn of the chemicals still contained in the train cars, resulting in a large plume of gas stretching up into the sky, according to The Guardian (Lean Left Bias). Roughly 2,000 East Palestine residents were ordered to evacuate and have since been told they can return. Before evacuating, residents reported experiencing headaches and nausea.

Ecological Impact: Some residents that have returned after the evacuation have reported a lingering chlorine smell during the night, according to the Washington Post. A New York Post (Lean Right Bias) article cited local reports of animals inside the evacuation zone dying suddenly. A Newsweek report stated that hundreds of fish were found dead in a stream near the crash site. According to the Daily Caller, the Environmental Protection Agency found additional chemicals in the derailed train that could pose harm to nearby residents.

How The Media Covered It: The ongoing story has been overshadowed in national media by the series of objects shot out of American airspace by the U.S. military. This has led some to criticize media outlets across the spectrum for allegedly ignoring the story, despite it being covered across the spectrum.