Emergency services are evacuating residents after a train carrying hazardous material derailed and caught fire amid fears an explosion could send sharpnel flying over a mile and create a toxic cloud.<br /><br />Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, USA, have been ordered to evacuate after the train, made up of more than 100 cars - 20 classified as carrying hazardous materials - left the tracks.<br /><br />The incident occurred on February 3rd and has been burning now for three days.<br /><br />Local fire chief Keith Drabick said: “We need to get everybody who remained within that mile radius - or decided they needed to come back within that mile radius - we need you to leave now.<br /><br />“This catastrophic failure, if it occurs, it will produce hydrogen chloride and phosgene gas into the atmosphere."<br /><br />Drone footage filmed by a local resident showed the scale of the incident and the roaring inferno from above.<br /><br />Eric Whiting said: "I was able to get this footage from my porch so that's how close it was. <br /><br />"The town was evacuated because of the huge flames and potential chemicals on board the train. <br /><br />"I have understood the engineers were unharmed and able to break free before it got this bad. <br /><br />"I am unsure the cause but I am say I feel lucky it happened as it was exiting town. <br /><br />"Moments sooner could have been much worse for possible fire spread."<br /><br />Local authorities have issued evacuation orders for the whole town of around 5,000 people.<br /><br />Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has enlisted the help of the Ohio National Guard as residents are urged to leave and anyone entering the area is subject to arrest.<br /><br />The local environment agency is monitoring the air quality and the toxicity levels in the town's drinking water.<br /><br />The footage was captured on February 3 and 4.
