Hours after residents of East Palestine woke up Saturday morning to the news of a 50-car train derailment, fears that “a major explosion” might be touched off by billowing flames and the presence of toxic gas caused Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to call for an immediate evacuation of the area. A “drastic temperature change” in the rail car Sunday evening dramatically increased the chance of “a catastrophic tanker failure” and detonation, the Associated Press reported. Gov. DeWine also warned of deadly shrapnel that could travel up to a mile. The Columbiana County Sheriff announced that residents who did not obey the order could be subject to arrest, with first-degree misdemeanor charges applying to households with children. The cause of the derailment remains unknown. Earlier, East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway told the AP the train was carrying multiple hazardous materials, and that firefighters are facing complications in their response as frigid temperatures caused their water to freeze. Evacuated residents are now sheltered in nearby a nearby high school and community center awaiting further instructions.
