Your best source on health and wellness news from California
Provided by AGP
40,000 Evacuate as Toxic Tank Nears Blast in Southern California
(MENAFN) A rapidly deteriorating hazardous materials situation in Southern California prompted evacuation orders for approximately 40,000 residents Friday, as emergency officials warned of a mounting risk of explosion, media reports said.
The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) said the leak was first reported Thursday in Garden Grove, a city located roughly 40 miles (64.4 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles. Conditions have sharply worsened over the past 24 hours, with response crews warning that the situation could culminate in either an explosion or a mass release of toxic chemicals into the surrounding environment.
"It fails or it blows up," OCFA Division Chief Craig Covey told reporters.
The imperiled tank, holding 34,000 gallons (128,704 liters), contains methyl methacrylate — a toxic, highly flammable liquid used in manufacturing acrylic plastics. Officials said overheating caused the tank to begin leaking vapors into the atmosphere. The failing tank sits directly adjacent to two additional chemical storage tanks.
"The tank that is in the biggest crisis is in fact unable to be secured and mitigated," said Covey.
"There are literally two options left," he said. "One, the tank fails and spills a total of about 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of very bad chemicals into the parking lot in that area, or two, the tank goes into a thermal runaway and blows up, affecting the tanks that are around them that have fuel or the chemicals in them as well."
Residents were strongly urged to comply with evacuation orders and keep clear of the affected area. Officials stated that ambient air quality is under active monitoring, with all current readings within what authorities described as "healthy limits."
"It is a highly toxic substance," OCFA Division Chief Nick Freeman said at a news conference. "It's extremely flammable, and in its current state, very reactive, and can cause that explosion."
OCFA said response teams have deployed containment barriers as a precautionary measure to prevent any chemical runoff from entering storm drains, waterways, or reaching the ocean. Officials indicated that a controlled spill, while undesirable, would represent the more favorable outcome compared to a full explosion.
No injuries had been reported as of Friday. The cause of the tank overheating remains under investigation.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
