May 24, 2026, 11:23May 24, 2026, 11:24 am
Evacuated residents stand in line at the food bank.Image: keystone
In view of the dangerous situation surrounding an explosive chemical tank in the greater Los Angeles area, Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for the affected Orange County district. The California authorities’ efforts to reduce or eliminate the risk of explosions continue, Newsom wrote on the X platform on Saturday (local time).
By declaring a state of emergency, the state can now hope for more help and money from the US government in Washington. Tens of thousands of residents were asked to leave their homes.
The approximately 34,000 gallon (approximately 129,000 liter) tank is located on the premises of an aerospace company in the Garden Grove area, southeast of Los Angeles.
The affected tank.Image: keystone
The liquid methyl methacrylate – a highly toxic and highly flammable chemical – is used in the production of plastics. So far, according to US media, the risk of a tank explosion or a huge leak has not been reduced.
Tens of thousands are waiting to return to their homes
Around 40,000 people followed the authorities’ call to evacuate and are now staying in hotels, their cars or in one of the emergency accommodations provided – some with pets. It was said that it was completely unclear when they could return.
Fire chief: Simply letting the tank explode is unacceptable
Successes reported in the meantime that the tank contents had been cooled down from the outside and thus reduced the risk of an explosion turned out to be a mistake: a drone flying over the tank was only able to measure the outside temperature, said Craig Covey from the Orange County Fire Department.
Emergency services were then able to get sufficiently close to the inside of the tank and found that the temperature had actually risen significantly, Covey added in an update on Instagram. “Our goal is to find a way to prevent the tank from exploding or leaking,” he said. “Just letting him explode is not acceptable.” (sda/dpa)