Second Chernobyl in Ohio, USA: People Falling Ill, Animals Dying en Masse

The aftermath of the "Second Chernobyl" in Ohio, USA, is yet to be fully assessed. On February 3, the lives of more than 5,000 residents living in one of Ohio’s towns changed drastically after a train carrying chemicals derailed and crashed. According to Kommersant, over two dozen rail cars filled with chemicals caught fire. Residents did not even attempt to extinguish the fire due to the highly toxic smoke.

The transport company reported leaks of vinyl chloride, ethylhexyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, and other substances that are extremely dangerous to human health. It took authorities 11 days to confirm that chemicals had entered the soil and water supply, as well as being detected in the air.

People are complaining of sore throats, skin irritation, and nasal congestion, while pets and livestock have begun to collapse, and dead fish have been spotted floating in the river.

Scientists admit that the scale of the disaster could be compared to Chernobyl. However, local authorities are assuring the public that nothing particularly terrible has occurred and that the situation is completely under their control.

U.S. President Joe Biden has made no official statement regarding the disaster in Ohio and has refrained from visiting the state, choosing instead to travel to Kyiv and Warsaw.