[Brief] California Declares Emergency Over Toxic Chemical Tank Explosion Risk
California has declared a state of emergency as a tank containing approximately 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate faces potential explosion risk. Thousands of nearby residents have been evacuated, and firefighters continue working to cool the tank. According to BBC and the New York Times, the chemical is toxic and highly flammable; an explosion would release large amounts of toxic gas. The cause of the incident is under investigation.