Failing chemical tank forces thousands to evacuate in Southern California
Al Jazeera • • nation
Key Points:
- Approximately 40,000 residents in six Orange County cities, Southern California, have been ordered to evacuate due to a failing storage tank containing 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a highly flammable chemical used in plastics production.
- The tank, located at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, poses a risk of rupture or explosion, with emergency responders working to prevent a hazardous leak or blast.
- Firefighters have managed to lower the tank's temperature remotely, gaining time to stabilize the situation, while hazmat teams prepare to neutralize any chemical vapors if a leak occurs.
- Despite evacuation orders, over 4,000 people have refused to leave, prompting local officials, including Garden Grove’s mayor, to urge immediate compliance for safety reasons.
- More than a dozen schools have closed amid the emergency, with authorities uncertain about the duration of the evacuation order.