| 15 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago 6 rail cars derail in southern Louisiana forcing evacuations
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LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - Six rail cars have derailed in southern Louisiana, with two cars leaking hydrochloric acid and forcing police to evacuate thousands of residents within a 1-mile radius of the accident.
Lafayette Corporal Paul Mouton says the two cars began leaking after the 2:20 a.m. Saturday derailment. Authorities are asking residents to leave. Mouton says local firefighters and state police are on the scene.
Mouton says the area is mostly businesses, but there's also a few apartment complexes and a nursing home. He estimates thousands will have to be evacuated.
Authorities say 20 Our Lake of the Oaks nursing home residents were sent to a hospital. Two of them had minor injuries.
The Federal Railroad Administration plans to investigate.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
