--- title: "Tens of Thousands of Animals Died for Miles Around Toxic Spill, Officials Admit" description: "In spite of government reassurances, things are starting to look scary in East Palestine, Ohio, where a new tally puts the fish death toll at over 43,000." date: "2023-02-24" modified: "2023-02-24" authors: - name: "Noor Al-Sibai" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/nooralsibai" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/animal-fish-death-east-palestine" categories: - "Science & Energy" tags: - "derailment" - "ohio" - "the digest" - "toxic chemicals" --- # Tens of Thousands of Animals Died for Miles Around Toxic Spill, Officials Admit ![In spite of government reassurances, things are starting to look scary in East Palestine, Ohio, where a new tally puts the fish death toll at over 43,000.]() *EAST PALESTINE, OH - FEBRUARY 20: A fish lays dead following a train derailment prompting health concerns on February 20, 2023 in East Palestine, Ohio. On February 3rd, a Norfolk Southern Railways train carrying toxic chemicals derailed causing an environmental disaster. Thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate after the area was placed under a state of emergency and temporary evacuation orders. (Photo by Michael Swensen/Getty Images) \Image: Getty / Futurism\* ## Fish Food In spite of government reassurances, things are starting to look freakier than ever in East Palestine, Ohio, where a new official tally puts the animal death toll at over 43,000 following the catastrophic train derailment there. As [*News 5 Cleveland* reports](), state officials said that more than 43,000 fish and other aquatic animals were found dead in rivers and streams in the waterways surrounding East Palestine where a Norfolk Southern train carrying a bunch of toxic chemicals derailed, resulting in both a chemical spill and a controlled burn of the [noxious compounds aboard]() to avoid explosion. "Do not feel they've been upfront," local resident John Hammer [told *CBS News*](), "not from day one." ## Keep Calm Just last week, the head of the Ohio Department of Agriculture attempted to reassure residents that "there’s nothing that we’ve seen with the livestock that poses any concerns," the [*Washington Post* notes]() in its reporting on the updated animal death toll. *News 5 Cleveland* notes that so far, the government has not reported any land-walking mammal deaths — but folks who live near the disaster site have said that their animals, including chickens, cats, and foxes, [have become sick and died]() in the wake of the derailment. Residents of the region are [understandably concerned]() about their health and safety in the wake of the derailment in, spite of official reassurances that the one-time evacuation zone is safe. Distrust in government fortitude following the Norfolk Southern crash is so high, in fact, that many are convinced that an Environmental Protection Agency official who drank the water in East Palestine [didn't actually imbibe](). As of right now, it's far too early to say what the long-term effects of the catastrophic accident will be — but if this latest fish death toll is any indication, there's reason to be concerned. **More on the East Palestine derailment:** [*There's a Super Bizarre Coincidence Surrounding the Ohio Train Disaster*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've often been drawn to unpacking the narratives that underlie technological, scientific and medical progress, with a special interest in areas of conflict and ambiguity that end up setting agendas and steering the fates of both elites and the hoi polloi. I'm a committed generalist, but I often find myself returning to work involving NASA and the private space sector, the effects of AI on media and society, and the mechanics of the pharmaceutical industry, with a specific focus on the spread of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Prior to Futurism, I worked for publications ranging from Media Matters and Truthdig to Raw Story and Bustle. I'm also the author of "Myspace Scene Queens," a 2024 title in Instar Books' acclaimed "Remember the Internet" series. My work at Futurism has been cited by outlets including the New Yorker, Slate, Nieman Lab, the Verge, the MIT Technology Review, the Sunday Times, and the Daily Beast. I grew up in North Carolina, attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and now live in Brooklyn, New York. In my free time, I'm an avid reader and music fan; you can probably find me at a local poetry reading, concert, underground rave, or DJ set. I'm the proud parent of an ineffable orange cat named Mee-Mow. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()