United States: A preliminary US government investigation has found that a faulty wheel bearing may have been the cause of the derailment of a train carrying toxic vinyl chloride through East Palestine, Ohio, earlier this month. Animals, fish and pets have reportedly died as a result of the chemical spill.

The National Transportation Safety Board report, which was made public on Thursday, said that on February 3, as the train passed through eastern Palestine, a trackside detector sent an alarm message to the crew.

One of the bearings of the first carriage to derail was flagged by the detector as being approximately 253 °F (112 °C) hotter than the surrounding air.

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Even though the train was already slowing down, the engineer responded to the alarm by slowing the train down and using the automatic emergency brakes to stop it.

The crew of the 149-car train moved the locomotive to a safe location a mile away and notified authorities when they saw smoke and fire coming from the 23rd car.

Overall, 38 cars were derailed, 11 of which contained hazardous materials. According to the report, first responders decided to conduct a controlled combustion of the chemicals to prevent a possible explosion as the temperature of an intact vinyl chloride tank began to rise. This method involved burning 115,580 gallons, or five tanks, of vinyl chloride.

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The report did not explicitly state that faulty bearings were responsible for the derailment, nor did it recommend venting and burning vinyl chloride. Further NTSB reports are expected as the investigation continues.

Locals in eastern Palestine criticized President Joe Biden for not declaring a disaster as clouds of thick, toxic smoke rose over the city.

Despite the fact that Biden sent Environmental Protection Agency and Health and Human Services officials to the area to declare it safe, residents have reported rashes, nausea and headaches as well as dead pets, livestock and fish.

Former President Donald Trump visited eastern Palestine on Wednesday while President Joe Biden was on a tour of Ukraine and Poland this week. There he praised first responders in the area and distributed food and water.

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Initially blaming the accident on deregulation of the railroads under President Trump, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited the scene Thursday.