<p>The site of the East Palestine train derailment, approximately three months after the disaster. East Palestine, Ohio, United States.</p>
2025 Photo Contest - North and Central America - Stories

A Town Derailed

Photographer

Rebecca Kiger

Center for Contemporary Documentation, TIME
09 May, 2023

The site of the East Palestine train derailment, approximately three months after the disaster. East Palestine, Ohio, United States.

On 3 February 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, a small town of 4,700 residents. The train contained hazardous materials, including known carcinogens. It was one of the most toxic train spills in the history of the United States, which raised concerns about the environmental and public health impacts of the derailment. This project chronicles the aftermath of the disaster and its continuing impact on the local community after national media attention waned. Embedded with residents as they sought corporate accountability and navigated conflicting health information, the photographer captures the nuanced new reality of East Palestine in limbo, highlighting the complex relationships between residents and their environment, health, and governing institutions.

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Rebecca Kiger
About the photographer

Rebecca Kiger is a documentary photographer based in Wheeling, West Virginia, United States.  She is also an educator and artist-in-residence through the Ohio Arts Council.  World Press Photo Involvement: 2025 World Press Photo Contest winner Rebecca Kiger on Social Media: Instagram: @rebecca_kiger ...

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Jury comment

The jury felt that this story effectively tells a story of a town impacted by corporate negligence, putting in focus the persistence of its residents to seek justice. The selection of frames skillfully blends thoughtful, intimate visuals. The photographer's immersive reporting, captures both the human cost and systemic issues with striking sensitivity.