China News Service, February 17 (Xinhua) Comprehensive report: On the 16th local time, US President Biden visited the East Palestine area of Ohio, USA. This is Biden's first visit to the site of the "Poison Train" incident in the United States in February 2023.
On February 23, 2023, aerial photography of the scene of the "Poison Train" accident in East Palestine, Ohio, USA. On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern Railway train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in eastern Ohio and caused a fire.
According to previous reports, on February 3, 2023, a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed and caught fire in Ohio, causing the leakage of various toxic chemicals such as vinyl chloride and forcing local people to evacuate. After the incident, many people continued to suffer from health problems, and the accident also posed a serious threat to the local environment.
According to Reuters, when visiting the site of the incident, Biden said, "Although there was force majeure, this was an act of greed that was completely avoidable." In addition, Biden also urged Congress to pass the bipartisan "Strengthening Rail Safety Act."
Reuters stated that when Biden's motorcade passed by, some protesters made rude gestures and shouted "a year late." Biden sipped some tap water and coffee while visiting a local candle shop.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan told reporters that the agency has been monitoring wells and municipal water supplies and "the derailment did not result in elevated levels of pollution exposure."
According to CNN, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has overseen the removal of more than 174,000 tons of contaminated soil from the site, but questions remain about whether toxins remain. Regan previously said the agency was confident "the residents of East Palestine would not be exposed to surface water, soil, or air hazards from the derailment."