Toxic tank threat forces mass evacuations in Southern California VIDEO

Emergency crews in Southern California worked through the night May 24 to prevent a massive tank containing a toxic chemical from leaking or exploding, as nearly 50,000 residents remained under evacuation orders in parts of Orange County.

The emergency centres on a tank at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove containing 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate (MMA), a hazardous industrial chemical that can cause respiratory problems and skin and eye irritation, CNN reports.

Authorities said a crack discovered in the tank on May 23 night raised fears of a catastrophic explosion or toxic leak. Officials warned that pressure may still be trapped inside if the fissure does not fully penetrate the tank’s exterior.

“One of the main concerns is a catastrophic worst-case scenario,” TJ McGovern told CNN, adding that overnight crews were assessing whether dangerous internal pressure had been released.

The incident began on May 21 after the tank overheated, triggering relief valves and sprinklers. However, officials said the valves became “gummed up,” allowing temperatures to continue rising.

“When MMA overheats, a chemical reaction is triggered that is difficult to control inside a large tank,” said Elias Picazo. He warned of the potential for a “thermal runaway,” in which heat accelerates the reaction further.

Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, while nearly 800 first responders, including hazmat teams and toxicologists, were deployed to the area.

Despite concerns, authorities stressed that no leak has been detected. Continuous air monitoring by the United States Environmental Protection Agency has so far found no contaminants outside the evacuation zone.

Nearby attractions, including Disneyland Resort, remained open.

Meanwhile, two evacuated residents filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against GKN Aerospace, alleging negligent handling and storage of MMA. The company apologized to residents for the disruption, saying it was “working round the clock to mitigate the risk of a leak.”

The incident also renewed scrutiny of past regulatory violations at the facility, including a nearly $1 million settlement tied to permitting and emissions issues identified during a 2020 inspection.

By Vafa Guliyeva