Evacuation orders issued in California city over chemical tank: 'It fails or it blows up'
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Key Points:
- Tens of thousands of residents in Southern California were ordered to evacuate due to a chemical tank at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove being in a critical state, with officials warning it could fail or explode.
- The tank contains approximately 34,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a highly flammable and toxic chemical used in plastics manufacturing; a leak was first detected Thursday, and the situation worsened Friday.
- Around 40,000 people are under evacuation orders, with over a dozen schools temporarily closed and outdoor activities canceled as a precaution.
- Firefighters have been cooling the tank with water to delay failure while working overnight to find a solution, but officials stress the risk remains high and uncertain.
- California Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed, and state emergency services are actively supporting local response efforts, urging residents to comply with evacuation orders.