Train derailment in Nebraska sparks emergency hazmat response

The spate of catastrophic train derailments across the U.S. heartland has continued after another train left its tracks in Gothenburg, Nebraska. Emergency hazmat crews rushed to the scene following the derailment, which reportedly occurred overnight on the eastern edge of the town. The latest train derailment comes after several other similar incidents occurred in recent weeks, including a devastating accident in East Palestine, Ohio that caused the town to be evacuated after it was damaged by a toxic waste runoff.

The East Palestine derailment was among more than a dozen train wrecks that have been reported across the U.S. since the start of the year. Around a dozen train cars were seen off the track following the overnight derailing in Gothenburg, around 50 miles from the Nebraska state capital of Lincoln. Law enforcement and a hazmat team were on the scene as authorities deal with yet another derailment on the nation’s railways.

Crews with the Union Pacific Railroad were also on the scene Tuesday morning to attempt the cleanup. A witness told KNOP that the wreck was the third derailment in the exact spot in the last six months due to a broken rail. It is currently unclear whether the incident has caused a danger to the public, or if any individuals were injured. The incident is currently under investigation. DailyMail.com has reached out to Union Pacific for comment. 

The latest rail wreck comes after a derailment in East Palestine, Ohio has become one of the most devastating such accidents in recent memory (pictured). Around 50 cars, including 10 carrying hazardous materials, derailed in a fiery crash on Friday, February 3. The crisis led nearby houses to be quickly evacuated after toxic vinyl chloride was slowly released from five of those cars. Authorities then ignited the gases for a ‘controlled release’ of the highly flammable, hazardous chemicals in a controlled environment, creating a dark plume of smoke that could be seen for miles. Despite residents being told it was safe for them to return home following their evacuation, many locals have since complained of severe side effects, including persistent coughs and burning eyes. Thousands of dead fish were also spotted in waterways around the scene after the incident, and residents have complained that local animals are dying off in the surrounding areas. 

Another derailment from the same railway company, Norfolk Southern, occurred last week after a train carrying at least one car of hazardous materials derailed in Detroit (pictured). The repeated crises have sparked concerns about the safety of the U.S. railway network and the transportation of hazardous materials. 

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