The NTSB says a mechanical issue may have caused the fiery Ohio train derailment

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Residents of a small Ohio village northwest of Pittsburgh still couldn’t return to their homes Sunday, two days after a cargo train derailment sparked a massive fire and prompted an evacuation amid concerns that hazardous materials might make the air dangerous.

No injuries were reported, but the fire prompted the evacuation order and a state of emergency declaration from the mayor. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the derailment. A preliminary NTSB investigation found that a mechanical issue occurred on one of the railcar axles, an official said Sunday.

Local officials said Sunday that the scene remained “volatile” and urged people to stay out of town or remain in their homes. The derailment Friday night sent about 50 train cars off the tracks in East Palestine, about 50 miles from Pittsburgh just on the other side of the Pennsylvania border.

“I cannot stress enough that if you are in the evacuation zone you need to leave,” East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway said at a news conference Sunday. “It could be a dangerous situation. I don’t want to see any of our residents get hurt.”

Read more: https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2023/02/05/east-palestine-ohio-train-derailment-fire/stories/202302050136