Hazardous cleanup underway after train derails in northeast D.C.

A CSX freight train derailed in northeast Washington D.C. early Sunday morning.

The train left the tracks near the Rhode Island Avenue Metro station, causing several overturned cars and a hazardous leak. The company said on Twitter 14 railcars had derailed.

One of the derailed cars is leaking sodium hydroxide.

Sodium hydroxide is a highly caustic substance that is used to neutralize acids and make sodium salts, according to the National Institutes of Health.

“CSX is working with first responders to contain the released product,” the company said in a statement. “We are grateful for the swift response from Washington D.C. first responders and other agencies.”

No injuries or evacuations were reported, the company said.

CSX released this statement:

At 6:40 a.m. on May 1, a CSX train traveling from Cumberland, Md. to Hamlet, N.C. derailed approximately 10 cars near 9th Street and Rhode Island Ave. near the Rhode Island Ave. Metro station. The CSX train had three locomotives and 175 total cars, including 94 loaded cars carrying mixed freight, and 81 empties. One derailed car is leaking sodium hydroxide, which is used to produce various household products including paper, soap and detergents. CSX is working with first responders to contain the released product. We are grateful for the swift response from Washington D.C. first responders and other agencies. CSX is working closely with them on this incident. No injuries have been reported. We will provide updates when available.

We will update this report as more information becomes available.