Authorities say several people suffered chemical burns and inhalation injuries when a tank containing hazardous liquid imploded at a pulp and paper mill in southwestern Washington state. It was not immediately clear how many people had been injured. Mike Gorsuch, battalion chief with the fire department in Longview, Washington, said first responders had decontaminated patients and taken them to nearby hospitals. The Nippon Dynawave facility is a pulp and paper mill and liquid packaging plant that makes material for tissues, printing paper, cups, plates, cartons and other goods. It employs about 1,000 people, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology. Authorities said there was no immediate threat to the public.

Authorities are bracing for the possibility that a damaged chemical tank at a facility in Southern California could leak or explode. An evacuation order has continued into the Memorial Day weekend for 40,000 residents of Garden Grove and several surrounding communities with no timeline on when they can return. No injuries were reported after the pressurized tank began overheating Thursday. Firefighters hope to find a way to cool off the chemical inside the tank so it won’t leak or explode. Experts say a leak would be much better than an explosion. Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Orange County. Several shelters remain open, including at three schools.