On May 25 (US time), according to CNN, firefighters and hazardous material response teams continued to work overnight at GKN Aerospace's facility in Garden Grove, Orange County, California.
The goal of the campaign is to determine whether the newly discovered crack in the tank containing methyl methacrylate (MMA) chemical completely penetrates the outer shell.
Acting Director of the Orange County Fire Department, TJ McGovern, said this is a key factor in assessing the level of danger of the incident. If the crack completely penetrates the tank body, the accumulated pressure inside may have been significantly released. Conversely, if the pressure is still maintained, the risk of a large explosion still exists.
About 50,000 people in a dangerous area of nearly 23km2 have been asked to evacuate since last weekend. Many people have to stay in temporary accommodation centers, hotels or relatives' homes during the Memorial Day holiday.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for the area.
The incident began on May 22 when a tank containing about 34,000 gallons (nearly 129,000 liters) of MMA showed signs of overheating and internal pressure continuously increased. According to experts, MMA is a chemical commonly used in the plastic and aviation industries, but can cause irritation to the eyes, skin and respiratory system if released into the environment.
Authorities warned that two worst-case scenarios could occur: a tank exploding, causing debris to hit surrounding residential areas, or thousands of gallons of chemicals leaking into the ground and air.
However, Mr. McGovern affirmed that so far no leakage signs have been recorded. Functional agencies are continuously monitoring air quality around the area.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has deployed 24 monitoring stations operating 24/24 hours. The results show that no contaminants exceeding the safe threshold have been detected.
According to local authorities, if the test results confirm that the pressure in the tank has been released, the evacuation range may be narrowed in the coming days.
Meanwhile, GKN Aerospace said it is coordinating with emergency agencies and specialized hazardous material teams to monitor the condition of the tank as well as minimize the risk of leakage.
We are clearly aware of the inconvenience and concern that this incident causes to the local community and sincerely apologize for the ongoing disruptions," the company said in a statement.
