Chemical explosion threat 'eliminated' in California
25.05.2026, DPA
An emergency related to a leak in a chemicals tank in the US state of California appeared to ease on Monday.
Orange County Fire Authority acting chief TJ McGovern said in a video update that "the threat [of a chemical explosion] has been eliminated, that threat is off the table."
The temperature of the chemical, methyl methacrylate, had stabilized and was falling, fire officials said.
An apparent crack in the tank had previously raised hopes that it could reduce the internal pressure. Emergency crews inspecting the tank during the night confirmed the crack and found that the temperature had fallen from 100 degrees Fahrenheit (about 37.7 degrees Celsius) to 93 degrees Fahrenheit (about 33.9 degrees Celsius).
Fire Authority personnel had been deployed for days to deal with the emergency. About 50,000 people living in the so-called danger zone around the town of Garden Grove were forced to leave their homes and spend the weekend in hotels, emergency shelters or even in their cars.
The evacuation zones remained in force, McGovern said. He described the potential chemical explosion as a "BLEVE", a "Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion."
A leak could also pose significant risks, however, as methyl methacrylate is highly flammable and could also cause environmental damage.
California authorities said on Sunday they had discovered a crack in a damaged tank containing toxic chemicals, easing fears over a potential explosion that earlier prompted the evacuation of about 40,000 residents. The leak began on Friday in Orange County's Garden Grove area, sending fumes across a densely populated region near Disneyland.
Issued on: 25/05/2026 -
By: FRANCE 24
Authorities in California on Sunday 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.
The tank contains 7,000 gallons (26,000 liters) 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 have 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 spilled material from reaching storm drains or river channels that funnel into the ocean.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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