South Carolina train derailment triggers hazmat shelter order

A South Carolina train derailment set off a hazardous materials response and prompted a shelter-in-place order for people living within a 1.5-mile radius, as reported by Railway Supply.

The derailment occurred around 9:50 a.m. near 2450 West 5th North Street—locally designated as US Highway 78—close to the KION North America plant in Summerville. Several rail cars left the tracks, triggering a hazmat response, closing Highway 78 between Jedburg Road and Industrial Road, and leading officials to instruct nearby residents to remain indoors.

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Summerville derailment triggers hazmat response and road closures

As crews responded, officials initially identified one of the derailed cars as a tank designed to carry chlorobenzene, a flammable industrial chemical that can be harmful if inhaled. That early information fueled concern about a possible chemical spill and the chance of an airborne release.

The National Institutes of Health describes chlorobenzene as a colorless, flammable liquid with a distinctive almond-like odor, as outlined on NIH PubChem. Prolonged exposure can affect the central nervous system and the respiratory tract, potentially causing breathing difficulties, dizziness, and neurological symptoms.

Chlorobenzene tank car concerns and public warnings

In a Facebook warning, State Senator Tom Fernandez said that if you smell chlorine “like a pool,” you should get inside immediately and call 911—especially if you begin to cough, feel chest tightness, or feel your eyes burning. Norfolk Southern hazmat teams and responders from surrounding agencies rushed to the scene to assess the risk.

Authorities later said the chlorobenzene tank car was empty at the time of the derailment and confirmed no chemical leak occurred. Dorchester County Fire Chief Tres Atkinson said there was “no immediate danger to the public,” aside from the immediate area where crews were working to secure the derailed cars.

Shelter-in-place lifted as cleanup continues

The shelter-in-place order was lifted around 2:15 p.m. Officials urged residents to avoid the area or use alternate routes as work continued at the derailment site, as reported by Trains.com.

Even after the order ended, the Highway 78 closure was expected to remain in place overnight and into Sunday morning while Norfolk Southern carried out remediation efforts.

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