Ohio River Disaster As Barge Hauling 1,400 Tons Of Methanol Smashes Into Dam

Ohio River Disaster As Barge Hauling 1,400 Tons Of Methanol Smashes Into Dam

TYLER DURDEN

Three large barges, one carrying 1,400 tons of methanol, were wedged against a dam and partially submerged, on the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky, following their detachment from a tugboat. 

The Louisville Metropolitan Emergency Services  said the navigation accident occurred early Tuesday morning when three barges -- part of a group of ten -- broke free from a tugboat after hitting a structure at the entrance to the Portland Canal near the river's McAlpine Locks and Dam. 

The barge carrying 1,400 tons of methanol is partially submerged at McAlpine Dam.

BREAKING: Multiple Emergency Response Teams has been Deployed to Address Submerged Barge Carrying 1,400 Tons of Toxic Methanol in the Ohio River #Louisville | #Kentucky A major incident has taken place in the Ohio River near Louisville, Kentucky, requiring multiple emergency response teams. Ten barges have detached from their tugboat and are stranded at a dam, with one carrying over 1,400 tons of methanol, a highly toxic substance, and reportedly sinking. It is uncertain if there has been any leakage, but if so, the substance will likely dilute quickly, although some fish mortality may occur. The other barges were carrying soybean oil and corn

Emergency Response Team (ERT) at a barge incident on the Ohio River in Lville. 10 of 11 barges are loose from the tug. One carrying 1400 tons of methanol partially submerged at McAlpine Dam. Nearest water intake is in Henderson.

@USCG

@kyfishwildlife

@ORSANCOchannel

Coast Guard spokesperson Chris Davis told NBC News that state and federal agencies are trying to remove barges. Downriver traffic has been halted. 

"We had shut down traffic.

 "There's going to be salvage operations, and it's going to be dangerous," Davis said.

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