HAMILTON COUNTY, Ohio — Evacuation orders remain in place Wednesday morning after officials discovered a dangerous chemical leak from a railcar in Whitewater Township Tuesday afternoon.
Officials said during a press conference Wednesday morning that the leak has stopped, and they are continuing to monitor the air to ensure there's no contamination. They're also testing the water supply.
Mike Siefke, chief of Little Miami Joint Fire and Rescue District, said there no concerns with water contamination, but they are checking the water supply just in case. During a Tuesday press conference, he said there are some concerns for a possible explosion, so evacuation orders remain. Siefke added that spraying the railcar down with water has helped lower its temperature.
It's not known what caused the leak, but authorities said the railcar has been separated from the rest of the train.
Siefke said it's going to be a "slow process" and an "all day event" to continue to mitigate the situation.
Authorities said a pressure release valve on the railcar was leaking styrene, a toxic and flammable chemical that is used to make plastic and rubber. It can cause headaches, nausea and respiratory issues, and long-term exposure can lead to more serious health problems, including organ damage.
Hamilton County Emergency Management advised anyone within a half-mile of US-50 and OH-128 in any direction to evacuate immediately. Residents who were outside of the evacuation were told to stay inside and keep the windows closed.
Officials also advised anyone near State Route 128 to close and seal off doors and windows, close fireplace dampers and turn off heat.
The leak prompted Three Rivers Local School District to evacuate its buildings. All school activities were canceled, and officials said the schools will be closed Wednesday.
It's not known when people can return to their homes. Officials said residents will receive a wireless emergency alert to let them know when it is safe to return.
Multiple hazmat teams, along with the Envrionmental Protection Agency and the Federal Railroad Administration, have been at the scene, the White House said. President Joe Biden has also been briefed on the situation, and he has directed his team to provide any resources that may be needed, the White House added.
There are two shelters for the public. The Whitewater Township Community Center houses one of the shelters, while the other can be found at Miami Township Town Hall.
Tom Ciuba, a spokesperson for Central Railroad of Indiana, said they were notified Tuesday afternoon about a railcar near Cleves that was venting styrene. He said firefighters were at the site and environmental response agencies were mobilized.
Central Railroad of Indiana released a statement:
"At approximately 1 p.m. this afternoon, Central Railroad of Indiana (CIND) was notified of a railcar in the vicinity of Cleves, Ohio, venting styrene. The local fire department is onsite, and environmental response agencies have been mobilized. We are fully cooperating with first responders, who will determine any evacuation orders. We ask all those in the area to follow first responder orders and to stay clear of the scene so that we can contain the incident as safely, quickly and effectively as possible. We will provide periodic updates as we learn more."
Additionally, during the press conference Wednesday morning, John Kiefer with the Central Railroad of Indiana said all railroad employees are safe.
There were 12 agencies on the scene, including a specialty hazmat team, when the leak was identified, officials said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.