40,000 residents under evacuation orders in Southern California as tank containing toxic chemical at risk of explosion

In Southern California on 23 May 2026, about 40,000 residents were placed under evacuation orders because a tank containing a toxic chemical was at risk of exploding. CNN wrote that officials raced to cool the tank, with 50,000 residents remaining under evacuation, and CGTN said officials warned of a risk of 'significant damage'.

El País wrote that California declared a state of emergency. La Repubblica described a toxic cloud coming from the tank.