Authorities in southern California have ordered the evacuation of roughly 40,000 people across six cities in Orange County following a dangerous situation at an aerospace manufacturing plant.
The mass displacement centres on Garden Grove, located approximately 38 miles from central Los Angeles, where a storage tank at GKN Aerospace's facility poses a serious explosion risk.
Beyond Garden Grove, evacuation orders now extend to parts of Cypress, Stanton, Anaheim, Buena Park and Westminster.
Garden Grove Police Chief Amir El-Farra confirmed to journalists that the affected zone encompasses around 40,000 residents.
No injuries have been reported thus far.
The industrial tank at the centre of the emergency contains between 6,000 and 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a hazardous substance used in plastic manufacturing that is extremely flammable.
Fire crews have been unable to gain control of the tank's valves since it overheated on Thursday, causing it to release vapours into the atmosphere.
By Friday, the chemical was no longer being emitted, according to officials.
Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Nick Freeman explained at a press conference that the substance is "extremely flammable and in its current state very reactive, and can cause that explosion".
The tank could either rupture and leak its contents onto the ground, or detonate entirely.
Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief Craig Covey warned on Friday: "This thing is going to fail, and we don't know when... we're doing our best to figure out when or how we can prevent it."
He added: "We are setting up these evacuations in preparation for these two options: it fails or it blows up."
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Emergency crews have managed to stabilise the tank's temperature, providing additional time to devise a solution.
Workers have also constructed sandbag barriers around the site as a precautionary measure against potential spillage.
These containment structures aim to prevent the toxic chemical from entering storm drains or contaminating nearby waterways and the ocean.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, methyl methacrylate can trigger lung and skin irritation, as well as headaches, coughing and wheezing.
The chemical has also been suggested as a potential cause of colon and rectal cancers, though this link remains unproven.
Dr Regina Chinsio-Kwong, the county health officer, cautioned that when the substance heats up, it can produce vapours harmful to human health.
Garden Grove mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein sought to reassure residents whilst acknowledging their concerns.
She said: "We understand that this is frightening. But the evacuation orders are in place for your safety."
A GKN spokesman said on the company's website on Saturday: "We sincerely apologise for the significant disruption to the many local residents and businesses who have had to be evacuated.
"We are working tirelessly with all relevant experts to resolve this situation as safely as possible and in a timely manner and are deeply grateful for the continued skill and dedication of the Orange County emergency services."
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