California: Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Orange County in response to the risk of explosion following a leak from a chemical tank in the Greater Los Angeles area.

According to Emirates News Agency, the authorities had been mobilized for more than 24 hours and were working to contain the risk. Newsom posted on X late on Saturday about the ongoing efforts. Tens of thousands of area residents were advised to leave their homes, with approximately 40,000 responding by spending the night in hotels, in their cars, or in the emergency accommodation provided by the authorities.

The tank, containing close to 130,000 litres, is located on the premises of an aerospace company in Garden Grove, south-east of Los Angeles. It holds methyl methacrylate, a toxic and flammable chemical used in the production of plastics.