LOS ANGELES, May 24 — Firefighters warned on Friday that a tank of toxic chemicals in California is continuing to heat up, raising concerns of a potential large-scale explosion that has already led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.
LOS ANGELES, May 24 — Firefighters warned on Friday that a tank of toxic chemicals in California is continuing to heat up, raising concerns of a potential large-scale explosion that has already led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.
Around 40,000 people were ordered to leave their homes in the Garden Grove area of Orange County, southeast of Los Angeles, after a leak from the tank released fumes over the densely populated area.
The tank holds 7,000 gallons (26,000 litres) of methyl methacrylate, a highly flammable and volatile chemical used in plastic production, prompting firefighters to describe the situation as serious.
Orange County Fire Authority Incident Commander Craig Covey said on Saturday morning that emergency crews had entered the area overnight to assess the risk, including the “explosive potential” posed by a nearby 15,000-gallon tank if the smaller tank were to fail. They were also able to check the temperature of the 7,000-gallon tank.
“Unfortunately, I have to report that the temperature was 90 degrees (Fahrenheit; 32 degrees Celsius). Yesterday morning it was 77 degrees when we backed out. It has been rising at about a degree an hour, so that’s the bad news,” he said in a social media update.
He added that firefighters were working on methods to cool the tank. Footage from local broadcasters on Friday showed water being sprayed onto the 34,000-gallon unit.
“The primary focus is the tanks,” Covey said at a Saturday evening briefing. “We are continuing to keep them cool and monitor them.”
A blast radius map released by authorities indicated that areas within about 1,100 feet (335 metres) of the tank could suffer severe damage in the event of an explosion, with similar distances beyond that potentially experiencing lighter damage.
Officials initially warned that an explosion or rupture were the only possible outcomes, but Covey later said, “Allowing this to fail and explode is unacceptable.”
“Our goal is to prevent that from happening, protect the community, and avoid environmental damage,” he added, noting that evacuated residents were now safe, with only emergency responders remaining in the danger zone.
‘Diking and damming’
Orange County Health Officer Regina Chinsio-Kwong said on Friday that the large evacuation zone was a precautionary measure.
“If it does explode and there is a vapor release, you are safe as long as you are outside the designated evacuation zone,” she said.
No injuries were reported as of Friday evening, and the cause of the leak, first detected on Thursday, remains under investigation.
Authorities are also constructing containment barriers to prevent any leaked chemicals from entering storm drains or waterways that flow into the ocean.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has warned that methyl methacrylate can irritate the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes, with both short-term and long-term inhalation exposure linked to respiratory effects, as well as possible neurological symptoms following acute exposure. — AFP
LOS ANGELES, May 24 — Firefighters warned on Friday that a tank of toxic chemicals in California is continuing to heat up, raising concerns of a potential large-scale explosion that has already led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.
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