Crews Remove Rail Car That Leaked Chemicals in Paulsboro

The ruptured rail car that leaked vinyl chloride and caused days of evacuations as dozens of Paulsboro, N.J. residents felt sickened was finally being removed Tuesday afternoon -- 11 days after the train derailment.

Officials announced around 4:445 p.m. Thursday that they had begun to take the rail car out of Mantua Creek.

“Today marks an important step in returning the last Paulsboro residents to their homes,” said Coast Guard incident commander Capt. Kathy Moore in a press release. “We are committed to continuing cleanup efforts as safely and swiftly as possible.”

An evacuation order remained in effect for around 30 Paulsboro residents who live closest to the site. Schools, however, did reopen Tuesday morning.

On Nov. 30, seven tanker cars derailed and a rail bridge collapsed during an accident in Paulsboro. The breached car the officials are moving forced hundreds of nearby residents to evacuate as dozens reported symptoms from the gas that was released into the air. 

Crews said they will work 24 hours a day to repair the train track and bridge once all the cars are removed from the creek.

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