Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes as officials race to stop a tank with dangerous chemicals from blowing up in California, USA

About 40,000 people are under evacuation orders and schools have shut down in Southern California due to a hazardous chemical leak.

Authorities in Orange County say they’re unable to control the valves on a tank that contains methyl methacrylate, a chemical used in the manufacture of plexiglass.