10 Barges Containing Methanal Based Chemical, 1 Barge Alone Containing 1,400 Liquids Spill in Louisville Ohio River Source Say and Certain Environmental Agencies on Scene are Reporting about Accident

Thursday March 30th, 2023, 3:54 PM reporting from Wednesday, March 29th, 2023, 3:06 PM-Cincinnati Ohio- It came out of no-where, when a barge containing a methanol substance used in certain FDA brand medical products and over-the-counter drug stores, and another 1,400-barge containing chemical spilled spewing int the mighty Louisville Ohio River. Emergency crews on contact have been reported on call in response after 10 barges broke free from a tugboat on the Ohio River in the Louisville region Tuesday.

All the barges came loose from the tug-a vessel that accompanies other boats in or out of port around 2 am. Tuesday and "made contact" with a stationary structure at the beginning to the Portland Canal, that is according to a news disclosure from Jessica Wethington, spokesperson for Louisville Metro Emergency Services.

Of the particular barges of methanal containment, the chemical that was carrying 1,400 tons total of the product, is a chemical used in everyday contents, and was receded under water at McAlpine Dam, said a tweet from the Kentucky Energy and Environmental Cabinet. The tugboat barges also carried soy and corn, emergency management services replied.

Impact on air on water: "There is currently zero evidence of a tank breach of any leaks, and air and water monitoring resources are in place," Wethington said.

The disaster developed near downriver from Louisville, and the closest Kentucky intake station in Henderson, roughly two hours west of the city. Kathleen Speicher from the Louisville Water Co. said there should be no drastic impact felt on the city's water supply because of the location of the incident, as it occurred downriver from Louisville's water intake.

"Your water is safe to drink," Speicher said. "But we will continue to track surveillance of the situations as it unfolds."

From social media message published at about 12:30 PM Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the lock chambers on the McAlpine Dam would be shutdown, describing the incident was "navigation accident." No injuries were indicated to be reported," the post said.

Three barges were still kissed against the lower side of the dam Tuesday afternoon, but USACE said all others had been recovered. The locks would remain closed until the barges were restabilized, the post added.

Has the water in Kentucy been contaminated? Officials in Western Kentucky were also keeping surveillance of the circumstance, according to Josh Thompson, Henderson Water Utility's treatment superintendent, who said the agency is working and the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission in the aftermath of the disaster.

Days would prolong the channel of chemicals to travel the approximately 200 miles of upstream river between Louisville and Henderson, Thompson said, and the company has actions positioned in place to treat the water if it were to be impacted by the spill.

Methanol is "fairly volatile" and dissipates quickly, he noted- and while the barge was reported to be carrying 1,400 tons of the chemical, it wasn't a complete spill of that entire comprehension.

Expert water management are surveying the aftermath of the disaster, he included, but are not worried for water usage quality in terms of the city limits as of Tuesday afternoon.