Early Monday morning, a train carrying hazardous materials derailed outside of Philadelphia, leading to the evacuation of nearby homes. The train derailment incident took place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, just before 5 a.m. A 40-car CSX Norfolk Southern freight train was involved, causing emergency crews to respond swiftly to the suburban area of Whitemarsh Township.
Approximately 15 to 20 of the derailed train cars were carrying hazardous materials, triggering a Level 2 hazmat response. In response to this potential danger, local officials decided to evacuate houses and businesses in the vicinity of the derailment as a precautionary measure.
Visual evidence of the derailment reveals multiple cars that have toppled off the tracks, with some appearing to be bent. Whitemarsh Township police stated on Facebook that precautionary evacuations were carried out for residents and businesses closest to the scene. They further stated that additional evacuations were unlikely, but the situation would continue to be assessed as more information became available.
Authorities from Norfolk Southern, CSX, and the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety’s Emergency Response Team were present at the site to manage the situation. As of now, there have been no reports of any injuries resulting from the incident.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed his concern on Twitter and assured the public that he and his team were closely monitoring the train derailment in Whitemarsh Township. He commended the local first responders and urged residents to follow the instructions provided by the authorities to ensure their safety throughout the situation.
