40,000 Southern Californians ordered to evacuate amid threat of chemical explosion
Officials said 40,000 residents were evacuated after the tank’s valve failed, leaving crews unable to secure the leaking chemical.
- On Friday morning, the Orange County Fire Authority reissued evacuation orders in Garden Grove after a chemical leak worsened at a nearby aerospace facility, expanding the buffer zone to include areas north of Trask Avenue and south of Ball Road.
- Initially reported Thursday at GKN Aerospace, the incident escalated when crews encountered an inoperable valve on the 34,000-gallon tank containing methyl methacrylate, creating risks of either a spill of 6,000 to 7,000 gallons or a thermal runaway explosion.
- Local school officials canceled classes at campuses including Pacifica High School and Alamitos Intermediate, while authorities established a temporary shelter at Stanton City Hall at 7800 Katella Avenue; no injuries have been reported.
- OCFA Division Chief Craig Covey emphasized that residents must follow evacuation orders while firefighters use unmanned hoses to cool the tank, with evacuation centers remaining open at the Garden Grove Sports & Recreation Center and at 5700 Orange Ave.
- Rep. Derek Tran is coordinating with federal disaster relief from FEMA and the EPA to assist Garden Grove, as authorities continue assessing air quality and urging residents to avoid impacted zones until further guidance is issued.
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In California, a storage tank threatens to explode with a highly flammable chemical. Authorities have ordered evacuations in the area south of Los Angeles. Tens of thousands are affected.
A storage tank with a dangerous chemical threatens to explode in California. Authorities have ordered the evacuation of around 40,000 residents. Not everyone wants to follow the instructions.
The fear is that the tank will fail or explode. The fire department is cooling the tank until a solution is found.
In Southern California, about 40,000 people have been called to evacuate due to a dangerous chemical leak.
Thousands evacuated in California as chemical tank leak sparks explosion fears
LOS ANGELES, May 23 — Tens of thousands of people were ordered to leave their homes in California yesterday after a huge chemical tank began leaking, with warnings it might blow up, sending toxic fumes over a heavily populated area.The tank contained 7,000 gallons (26,000 litres) of methyl methacrylate, a volatile and flammable liquid used to make plastics, with firefighters warning the situation was looking grim.“There are literally two options…
Estimated 40,000 evacuated in California as toxic chemical tank poised to leak or explode
The tank contains methyl methacrylate, a “highly toxic” substance which can impact the respiratory system, and can cause skin and eye irritation, HAZMAT program manager, Division Chief Freeman said.
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