Over 40K Evacuated Over Chemical Tank in California
Officials said the overheated tank could rupture or explode, and about 40,000 residents were ordered out as crews worked to cool it.
- On Thursday, May 21, 2026, a methyl methacrylate leak at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove prompted emergency officials to evacuate approximately 40,000 residents after the chemical overheated within a storage tank, creating risks of catastrophic spill or explosion.
- Broken, "gummed up" valves prevented crews from draining the tank, forcing Orange County Fire Authority Incident Commander Craig Covey to implement emergency cooling measures while bracing for rupture or thermal-runaway explosion.
- Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey reported Saturday that internal tank temperatures climbed to 90°F, while Orange County Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong warned inhaling vapors from the 7,000 gallons can cause severe respiratory distress.
- California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Saturday to mobilize state resources and expand shelter availability as officials confirmed schools and facilities remain closed with no timeline for residents to return.
- Working 24 hours a day, emergency crews continue stabilizing the facility using containment barriers and thermal-monitoring drones while officials maintain the large exclusion zone to ensure community safety during the ongoing crisis.
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A large chemical tank is at risk of overflowing or exploding in southern California. Governor declared a state of emergency and nearly 50,000 people were removed from the house.
An overheated and leaking tank containing the toxic and extremely flammable chemical methyl methacrylate is at risk of exploding in California – while residents in the area are reporting headaches, dizziness and respiratory irritation.
The authorities evacuated tens of thousands of people.
Southern California chemical tank at risk of exploding as 50,000 residents are ordered to evacuate
Authorities are bracing for the possibility that a damaged chemical tank at a facility in Southern California could leak or explode. An evacuation order has continued into the Memorial Day weekend for 50,000 residents of Garden Grove and several surrounding…
Sunday Links: State of Emergency For Orange County Chemical Leak
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ledauphine.com
Whole quarters are threatened by a reservoir containing approximately 26,000 litres of methyl methacrylate, a flammable liquid used in plastic manufacturing.
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