Emergency Declared After Chemical Leaks Into West Virginia Water Supply

Nine counties in West Virginia are under a declaration of emergency, after their water was contaminated.

According to officials, a foaming agent used in the coal preparation process, leaked from a tank at Freedom Industries and enter the Elk River, Thursday morning.

The leak was stopped, but an unknown amount of the chemical entered the water supply of Charleston and the surrounding area.

Boone, Cabell, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam, and Roane counties are affected.

Residents are warned to avoid tap water, and only use it for toilets.

Boiling will not removed the chemical from the water and showering or washing in it would cause exposure.

Restaurants and other food based services have been told to close, unless they use bottled water.

Many stores, in the affected area, are already out of bottled water, with more being rushed in.

At this time, it is not known how long it will take to completely flush the chemical out of the water systems.

Lightning Strike Kills 3 in Argentina

Three tourists were killed when lightning struck a beach in Argentina.

Twenty-two other people were injured in the incident.

It happened in Villa Gesell, on Thursday evening.

Witnesses said that the storm came out of nowhere and that people were heading for shelter, when the strike occurred.

The government issued a statement, calling the incident a "disgrace".

Japan Factory Explosion Leaves 5 Dead

Five people were killed in a factory explosion, in Japan on Thursday afternoon.

It happened at a Mitsubishi factory, in Yokkaichi.

Seventeen other people were injured in the blast.

Emergency crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire, caused by the explosion.

Officials say that workers were cleaning a heat exchange, when the explosion occurred.

It is believed that a chemical reaction with hydrogen was the cause, but the investigation is continuing.