A train derailment in Pennsylvania early Saturday morning sent several cars into a river.
According to reports, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in Lower Saucon Township in Northampton County around 7:15 a.m.
“Northampton County Emergency Management as well as the Lehigh County Hazmat team are on site and providing support. Norfolk Southern is on site and is doing an assessment,” the County of Northampton posted on social media.
Officials said multiple train cars ended up in the Lehigh River.
PENNSYLVANIA
Here we go again……
BREAKING:
Emergency crew responds to Norfolk Southern train derailment in Pennsylvania that led to several cars landing in the Lehigh River. pic.twitter.com/bfGKW1ZhcC
— 🇺🇸 PENNSYLVANIA IS TRUMP™ (@RED_IN_PA) March 2, 2024
Northfolk Southern train derailment involving 3 trains along the Lehigh River in Freemansburg PA. Officials stating diesel fuel spilled into the river. pic.twitter.com/cIhhoE6sup
— N. Jerzy Fire Alert (@NJerzyFireAlert) March 2, 2024
NBC 10 Philadelphia reports:
Diesel fuel spilled in the river and officials said crews are working to contain it. Polypropylene plastic pellets also spilled from one of the train cars.
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There are currently no evacuations or a hazardous material threat to the community, officials said.
Officials added no one was injured during this incident.
Officials said emergency personnel are at the scene investigating and at this time they ask residents to stay out of the area.
There has been a train derailment in L. Saucon Twp. Preliminarily there are no evacuations, no injuries and no leaks. However, this can change. The best thing we can do to assist first responders is to STAY AWAY.
— Lamont G. McClure (@LamontGMcClure1) March 2, 2024
Norfolk Southern released the following statement:
“Norfolk Southern has responded to a derailment in Lower Saucon Township, PA. There is no threat to the public, no hazardous material concerns from the railcars, and no reports of injuries to our crew members. We appreciate the quick, professional response by local emergency agencies. Our crews and contractors will remain on-scene over the coming days to cleanup, and we appreciate the public’s patience while they work as quickly, thoroughly, and as safely as possible. We are always working to advance safety. We will investigate this incident to understand how it happened and prevent others like it.”
Per Fox News:
Norfolk Southern had multiple derailments last year, with one of the most notable in Ohio “when 38 cars of a 151-car train carrying hazardous materials derailed and 12 others caught fire,” CBS News Philadelphia reports.
Norfolk Southern said in a statement to Fox News Digital they responded to the incident near Bethlehem and “appreciate the quick, professional response by local emergency agencies.” Crews and contractors are developing a clean-up plan at the derailment site.
A corporate fact sheet from Norfolk Southern says the company “has the most extensive intermodal franchise in the East” and ships over 2,900 commodities for its customers. The company also says it is the “largest rail shipper of metals in North America.”