Hundreds of thousands of West Virginia residents are on their fifth day without safe tap water after a chemical spill in the Elk River. The company Freedom Industries leaked up to 7,500 gallons of an agent used in coal extraction on Thursday. Residents have been barred from drinking, cooking or bathing with water from their taps. Scores of schools and businesses have been closed, including in the state capital, Charleston. The head of the West Virginia Water Company told residents to only use water for flushing toilets.

Jeff McIntyre: “Right now, no water is safe. Hot or cold water all starts as cold water that comes from our treatment plant. So, under the do not use, as the governor mentioned, do not use it for anything other than sanitation.”

Dozens of people have been hospitalized since the spill, with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, rashes and reddened skin. On Sunday, West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said the amount of chemicals in the water is on the decline, but offered no timeline on when it will be safe.

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin: “The numbers look good, and like last night, they are very encouraging. I believe that we’re at a point where we could say that we see light at the end of the tunnel.”