Residents evacuated after chemical train derails in Louisiana

About 100 homes have been evacuated after a train carrying hazardous materials derailed in Louisiana.

More than 20 carriages went off the tracks about 3.30pm local time yesterday near Lawtell, about 60 miles west of Baton Rouge.

Two carriages of the Union Pacific train were leaking and company spokeswoman Raquel Espinoza said one of them was leaking sodium hydroxide, which can cause injuries or even death if it is inhaled or touches the skin. The other was leaking oil.

Master Trooper Daniel “Scott” Moreau said the amount leaking was so small air pollution detectors had not picked up anything. One person went to hospital complaining of eye irritation.

The evacuated homes were within about a mile of the derailment.

Another damaged car was carrying vinyl chloride, Ms Espinoza said, but it was not leaking. Vinyl chloride is extremely flammable.

There were two people on the train, an engineer and a conductor. They were not hurt. Ms Espinoza said a man who was near the derailment initially did not want to go to the hospital in an ambulance, but decided later to go get checked out for a burning sensation in his eyes.

The rail company does not know what caused the derailment. Ms Espinoza said the railway ties were renewed in 2011 and the track was inspected about three hours before the accident.