A train carrying hazardous materials derailed in Louisiana and two railcars were leaking chemicals, forcing the evacuation of about 100 homes, officials said. One man went to the hospital complaining of eye irritation. 
 
 More than 20 cars of the Union Pacific train went off the tracks about 3:30 p.m. local time Sunday near Lawtell, west of Baton Rouge. Company spokeswoman Raquel Espinoza said one of the railcars was leaking sodium hydroxide, which can cause injuries or even death if it is inhaled or touches the skin. The other was leaking lube oil. 
 
 Master Trooper Daniel "Scott" Moreau said the leaks were contained and the amounts were so small air pollution detectors have not picked up anything, but homes within about one mile of the derailment were evacuated as a precaution. 
 
 Gov. Bobby Jindal flew into St. Landry Parish on Sunday night, KATC-TV reported (http://bit.ly/16tI989). 
 
 "Anytime you have chemicals leaking into the environment, that's a serious issue," Jindal said. "Nobody knows the extent of the damage. We'll get that in the next 24 hours." 
 
 Another damaged car was carrying vinyl chloride, 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. 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 railroad company doesn't know what caused the derailment. Espinoza said the railroad ties were renewed in 2011 and the track was inspected about three hours before the accident. 
 
 The track runs parallel to U.S. Highway 190. State police said it would be closed for at least two days. Traffic was also being diverted from the evacuation zone. 
 
 St. Landry Parish President Bill Fontenot said evacuated residents could go a theater the local government owns if they needed a place to stay. The Delta Grand Theater has no fixed seating, so cots can be easily set up, he said. ||||| Posted: Aug 4, 2013 9:54 PM by Tina Macias 
 
 Updated: Aug 5, 2013 10:39 AM 
 
 The train that derailed in Lawtell is leaking chemicals and at least one of two cars carrying a hazardous chemical, vinyl chrloride, is damaged. 
 
 That's according to Gov. Bobby Jindal who flew into St. Landry Parish to speak about the situation a little after 9:30 p.m. tonight. 
 
 "Although it's not leaking at this moment, it does have signs of damage," Jindal said. The damage has to be assessed before residents can return home, he said of the vinyl chloride. 
 
 US 190 near the accident site will be closed for at least two days as the situation is assessed. As of now, 101 homes have been evacuated and 30 families have checked into the evacuation check point, and four are looking for shelter. 
 
 "Anytime you have chemicals leaking into the enviroment, that's a serious issue," Jindal said. "Nobody knows the extent of the damage. We'll get that in the next 24 hours." 
 
 8 PM UPDATE: 
 
 A 1 mile radius evacuation is being enforced by St. Landry Sheriff Deputies and State Police. Evacuees can receive more information at The Delta Grand Theater, 120 S. Market Street, Opelousas. As of right now, approximately 50 homes have been evacuated. 
 
 The bad weather delayed state police from evaluating the situation because of the weather, says St. Landry Parish Sheriff spokeswoman Megan Vizena, so it's unclear how long the evacuation will last. 
 
 The Red Cross and Union Pacific representatives are stationed at the Delta Grand. 
 
 The evacuation zone includes: 
 
 St. Theresa Avenue, US 190 from Desiree Road to J M-La Fleur Drive, Frank Road between Summer road and US 190, Pine Loop, Ammo Lane, Audubon Road, Patty Street between Hilton Road and Acadiana Road, Berry Road, Teal Lane, Charlene Richard Road between Berry Road and Acadiana Road, Acadiana Road between Airline Road and US 190, Wisdom Road between Gapevine Road and Desiree Road. 
 
 UPDATE 6:10 PM 
 
 Lawtell Train derailment update: St. Landry Parish deputies are evacuating all residents within a mile radius of the crash site: US 190 at Frank Road. Twenty-six of the 76 cars derailed this afternoon, and some of the derailed cars were carrying flammable materials including lube oil and vinyl chloride. 
 
 Evacuation area: 
 
 The St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office has confirmed that they are on scene of a train derailment in Lawtell near HWY 190 and Frank Road. The Sheriff's office tell us, the Union Pacific train derailed just after 3:30pm. The State Police hazmat team has been called to the scene. Injuries are unknown at this time. 
 
 There are 26 confirmed cars derailed at this time, one of which is a flammable liquid some of the cars are carrying corrosive material and flammable materials. 
 
 "The cars that derailed include lube oil and other products. There was some vinyl chloride on there," Union Pacific spokesperson Raquel Espinoza says. 
 
 The train included a total of 76 rail cars and two locomotives. At least one residence has been evacuated and Union Pacific has dispatched an emergency response team. 
 
 "We're going to go in there and assess the situation and do what we need to do to put the cars back on the track," Espinoza says. "A lot of times it takes us sometime because we want to make sure we keep the public safe."
– With rail safety in the spotlight after last month's disaster in Canada, the derailment of a train carrying hazardous materials in Louisiana has rattled nerves but not caused any deaths or serious injuries. Around 100 homes were evacuated after at least 20 cars of a Union Pacific train went off the rails east of Baton Rouge, the AP reports. Two of the cars are leaking sodium hydroxide, which can be deadly if it is inhaled or touches the skin, but officials say air pollution detectors haven't picked up anything. Gov. Bobby Jindal flew into the area last night, reports KATC. "Anytime you have chemicals leaking into the environment, that's a serious issue," he told reporters. "Nobody knows the extent of the damage. We'll get that in the next 24 hours."