WARTBURG, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT)— The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report on the fiery Norfolk Southern train derailment that occurred June 11 near Wartburg in Morgan County.
According to the NTSB, the southbound freight train was traveling about 32 miles per hour when 29 of its railcars derailed near the Emory River. Nineteen of those cars contained hazardous materials. [wbir.com], [wate.com]
Investigators say two tank cars carrying unspecified alcohols and one carrying ethanol were breached during the derailment, releasing flammable liquids that ignited. Additional tank cars were exposed to the fire, with several also releasing alcohol that caught fire. The blaze continued until June 14. [wbir.com], [yahoo.com]
The NTSB said Norfolk Southern estimates approximately 107,000 gallons of alcohol were released, causing about $5.3 million in damage. The incident prompted the evacuation of residents within a one-mile radius for several hours. [yahoo.com], [wbir.com]
The derailment also raised concerns about impacts to the Emory River. State officials later lifted a water contact advisory after testing showed ethanol levels had fallen below EPA guidance levels. Dead fish discovered in the river have been linked to low dissolved oxygen levels rather than hazardous concentrations of ethanol. Officials say nearby drinking water wells were not affected. [wate.com], [wbir.com]
The cause of the derailment remains under investigation.
