Chemical Tank Crack Eases Explosion Fears in California
The Chemical Tank Incident
A damaged chemical tank in southern California cracked over the weekend, which authorities were hopeful would relieve pressure and reduce the risk of an explosion.
Some 50,000 residents in Garden Grove, a city of roughly 170,000 about 40 miles (60km) south of downtown Los Angeles, have been evacuated and are waiting for a resolution.
The Evacuation and Safety Measures
The tank overheated on Thursday and began venting vapors, leaving local and state officials scrambling to evade a worst possible scenario at the GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems site.
No injuries have been yet reported.
- Fire officials planned to send in a team overnight to determine if the pressure has been relieved.
- Atmospheric modeling showed an active leak from the tank as of Sunday night.
The Data Analysis
The tank holds 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 to 26,500 liters) of methyl methacrylate used to make plastic parts.
The tank's interior reached 100 degrees (37.7 Celsius) on Sunday, an increase of 10 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 Celsius) since Saturday.
The Impact Analysis
Exposure to methyl methacrylate can cause serious respiratory problems, neurological problems and irritation to the skin, eyes and throat.
Some Garden Grove residents filed a class action federal lawsuit on Saturday against GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, which operates the facility where the tank is located.
The Prediction
Authorities are working to mitigate the risk of a leak and ensure the situation is brought under control.
GKN Aerospace did not comment on the lawsuit but has apologized to residents and businesses forced to evacuate.