NEAL, W.Va. — Three Norfolk Southern rail cars derailed at a chemical plant in Wayne County on Wednesday night, and emergency officials ordered about 40 families within half a mile of the facility to leave their homes, a wire service reported.
A Wayne County 911 dispatcher said the evacuation was ordered as a precaution. As of 11:45 p.m., the families had not been allowed to return to their homes.
The lead car, which remained upright, contained about 30,000 gallons of propylene, a flammable chemical used to make plastics, The Herald-Dispatch of Huntington reported.
Two empty hopper cars overturned, said David Earl, administration manager of the plant.
”There was no penetration to the car, no damage and no leaks,” Earl said.
The derailment occurred at 9 p.m. at a Sunoco chemical plant in Neal at the intersection of U.S. 52 and State Route 75, the Herald-Dispatch reported.
”Nothing at this time is dangerous,” the 911 dispatcher said.
A Norfolk Southern crew was pushing 23 cars into the plant when the lead car, which contained propylene, derailed. The car stayed upright but three empty cars overturned, Norfolk Southern Railway spokeswoman Susan Bland said.
Bland said officials did not consider the derailment to be dangerous.
”What emergency officials choose to do to protect their community is their decision,” she said.