Ammon News - Approximately 40,000 residents in Orange County, California, are under evacuation orders as authorities are concerned a tank filled with a toxic chemical will either leak or explode.

Authorities have spent the past two days trying to prevent the tank, which is full of the chemical methyl methacrylate, from exploding after it began to overheat. Evacuation orders were issued to those in the 9-square-mile area around the facility involved, impacting over 40,000 residents.

The chemical, also known as MMA, is used to manufacture plastics and can potentially cause respiratory issues if humans are exposed, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The temperature of the tank is continuing to decrease, Orange County Fire Authority Division Chief and Unified Incident Commander Craig Covey said in an update Friday evening.

“It’s down to a temperature around 61 degrees, with 50 being its happy place,” Covey said, adding that officials are working overnight to prevent the tank from exploding or leaking.

The tank cooling down is “giving us opportunity to reconsider engaging in close proximity to implement some of the concepts that were outside the box,” Covey added.


CNN