About 50,000 people who were evacuated because of the threat of a failing chemical tank in Orange County, California, have now been allowed to return home. The tank, which contains thousands of gallons of methyl methacrylate - a highly volatile and flammable substance used to make plastic - was recently deemed to be at risk of either a major spillage or an explosion.

Authorities are bracing for the possibility that a damaged chemical tank at a facility in Southern California could leak or explode.

Pearsall fire crews responded to a battery tanker explosion and fire in east Pearsall on Tuesday.The explosion happened just before 6 p.m. at

One California town is in a state of emergency and 50,000 people are under an evacuation order as a malfunctioning chemical tank at an aerospace plant is overheating and could leak or explode.

Officials said they did not believe anyone was still alive inside the facility. The explosion has left at least two people dead and several others injured. By Anna Griffin Billy Witz Christine Hauser Alexandra Berzon and Christina Morales Anna Griffin ...

Officials lifted some evacuations in Southern California after a hazardous chemical tank cooled, ending risk of a major explosion but smaller threats remain.

A tanker reported an external explosion in the Gulf of Oman, near the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.K. Maritime Trade Operations. The master of the tanker said it was approximately 60 nautical miles east of Muscat,

Authorities in Washington said the nine employees still unaccounted for in a chemical explosion are not expected to be found alive.