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 saids 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.

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