400 homes evacuated in Ohio due to railcar leak

The small town of Willard, Ohio is struggling to contain a railcar leak that is releasing a toxic chemical into the nearby area. The transportation company CSX Corp. called for workers to help clean up with spill, but in the meantime, around 400 homes were evacuated as a precaution. City Manager Brian Humphress told The Sandusky Register that the 26,000-gallon tank was leaking for hours before the hole was resealed, meaning that it will be a while before cleanup is complete.

The liquid is thought to be styrene monomer, which is used to make plastic and rubber. It is extremely flammable, and can cause breathing problems when inhaled. Authorities are also worried that if the chemical spreads too far, an explosion could occur. No one is sure what caused the leak yet.