WASHINGTON — A CSX freight train heading to North Carolina derailed near a Metro stop in Washington on Sunday, sending 14 cars off the tracks and spilling a hazardous material, officials said. No injuries were reported and no evacuations were ordered.

The train derailed about 6:40 a.m. near the Rhode Island Avenue Metro station and one of the cars leaked sodium hydroxide, which is used to produce various household products including paper, soap, and detergents, a CSX spokeswoman said.

Sodium hydroxide, also known as corrosive lye, is a chemical that can irritate and burn the skin and eyes.

CSX said hours later the leak was plugged. Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a news conference that officials were not sure how much spilled.

Officials found that another derailed car had been leaking nonhazardous calcium chloride, CSX said. That leak had also been plugged, the company said. A third car was slowly leaking ethanol from the base of a valve, the company said. Officials worked to reseal the valve, and the spilled the ethanol has been contained.

CSX said it will now focus its attention on cleanup efforts.

It was not immediately clear what caused the derailment.

Associated Press