Authorities in Orange County, California, have ordered the evacuation of around 40,000 people amid fears of a chemical leak or explosion at a GKN Aerospace facility in Garden Grove. The threat involves a storage tank containing methyl methacrylate, a highly flammable chemical used in resins and plastics, which began off-gassing on Thursday and is now described as 'actively in crisis'.
Initial evacuation orders were lifted later on Thursday but reinstated after damage to a valve on the tank created additional challenges, preventing complete mitigation. By Friday, the evacuation zone had expanded to include residents in six cities, including Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park, and Westminster.
Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey told reporters that two scenarios remain possible: the tank could fail, spilling 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of chemicals, or it could undergo a thermal runaway and explode, potentially affecting nearby tanks containing fuel or other chemicals. 'This thing is going to fail, and we don’t know when,' Covey said.
Crews have erected containment barriers with sandbags to prevent any spillage from reaching storm drains, creeks, or the ocean. County Health Officer Dr Regina Chinsio-Kwong warned that if the chemical heats up, it can release harmful vapours causing respiratory issues, eye irritation, nausea, and headaches.
Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El-Farra reported that approximately 15 per cent of residents subject to evacuation orders were refusing to leave. At least two shelters have been set up for evacuees. Garden Grove lies about 30 miles south-east of downtown Los Angeles and less than a mile from Disneyland’s theme parks, which remain unaffected.
