Crack found in California toxic chemical tank could relieve pressure, as thousands evacuate
A drone view shows water being sprayed during a chemical incident involving a leaking tank of methyl methacrylate, a flammable liquid used in the aerospace industry, forcing an evacuation in the surrounding area, in Garden Grove, California, US, May 23, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS/David Swanson)
LOS ANGELES: Authorities in California on Sunday (May 24) said they discovered a crack in a damaged tank of toxic chemicals, potentially relieving pressure as the threat of an explosion has forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate.
About 40,000 residents were ordered to leave their homes in the Garden Grove area of Orange County, southeast of Los Angeles, on Friday after the tank began to leak, sending fumes over a heavily populated area about five miles from Disneyland.
On Saturday night, firefighters approached the tank to gather information and saw a "potential crack in the tank, which could potentially be relieving some of the pressure in there," TJ McGovern, interim fire chief for the Orange County Fire Authority, said in a video post on X.
"This operation that we did gave us positive intel to make educated decisions today in the positive light," he said, adding that experts are carefully studying the information collected. "We're not there yet, but this was a step in a right direction."
There was no indication as to what caused the leak, which was initially reported on Thursday, and McGovern did not comment on whether the crack was linked to the leak.
VOLATILE AND FLAMMABLE LIQUID
The tank contains 26,000 litres of methyl methacrylate, a volatile and flammable liquid used to make plastics.
Firefighters had warned Saturday that the tank was heating up - adding to fears of a catastrophic blast - and had been spraying water to cool the tank.
Orange County Health Officer Regina Chinsio-Kwong said Friday the large exclusion zone around the tank was a necessary precaution.
As of Sunday, evacuees were still not allowed to return home, and shelters had been opened to accommodate them. Disneyland officials said the "resort remains open to guests," and they were keeping a close tab on the matter.
The US Environmental Protection Agency says methyl methacrylate is irritating to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes in humans. It can also cause respiratory and neurological reactions in cases of acute or prolonged exposure.
Responders were working to put containment barriers in place to prevent any spilt material from reaching storm drains or river channels that funnel into the ocean.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Orange County, and his office pleaded for residents to follow evacuation orders.
The incident began on Thursday at the GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove, a city of about 172,000 people roughly 50 km south of Los Angeles. The site specialises in the manufacturing and testing of windows and canopies for commercial and military aircraft, according to its website.
GKN said it is working with "all relevant experts" to solve the problem.
"We sincerely apologise for the significant disruption to the many local residents and businesses who have had to be evacuated," a GKN spokesperson said in a statement on Saturday.
