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Explosion Risk Eliminated in Toxic Tank Scare
26 May
Summary
- Risk of explosion from toxic chemical tank has been eliminated.
- Tank contained 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate.
- Evacuation orders remain for over 50,000 residents.
Officials have successfully eliminated the risk of a major explosion from a chemical storage tank in Garden Grove, California. The tank, which contained about 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a substance used in plastics manufacturing, had begun to heat up and bulge, raising fears of a rupture and explosion. This scenario could have potentially triggered nearby tanks to explode as well.
Authorities confirmed that a crack in the tank has been releasing pressure, allowing the internal temperature to decrease. Firefighters have been actively cooling the tank using sprinklers and hose lines. Despite the averted explosion threat, evacuation orders remain in effect for over 50,000 residents in the surrounding area.
The incident prompted a presidential emergency declaration for California, releasing additional resources from FEMA. An investigation into the cause of the heating is underway, with a class-action lawsuit filed against the facility's owner, GKN Aerospace. The company stated its specialists worked to cool the tank by removing external insulation.
