Chemical Leak Triggers Mass Evacuations In California, Firefighters Race To Prevent Explosion

Last Updated:May 23, 2026, 17:24 IST

Around 40,000 people were affected by the evacuation order. However, several thousand residents reportedly chose to remain in their homes.

Tens of thousands of residents in California’s Orange County were ordered to evacuate after a massive chemical tank leak raised fears of a possible explosion and the spread of toxic fumes across a densely populated region.

The emergency unfolded in the Garden Grove area, southeast of Los Angeles, where a tank holding nearly 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate, a highly flammable chemical used in plastic manufacturing, began leaking. Fire officials described the situation as critical, warning of two possible outcomes.

Authorities Warn Of Blast Risk

“There are literally two options left," Incident Commander Craig Covey told news agency AFP.

“The tank fails and spills a total of about 6-7,000 gallons of very bad chemicals into the parking lot in that area or, two, the tank goes into a thermal runaway and blows up, affecting the tanks around them that have fuel or chemicals in them as well…We are setting up these evacuations in preparation for these two options: it fails, or it blows up," he said.

40,000 Told To Evacuate

Authorities said around 40,000 people were impacted by the evacuation order, although several thousand residents reportedly chose to remain in their homes. Television footage showed firefighters continuously spraying water on the tank in an effort to lower its temperature.

Later in the evening, Covey said cooling operations were helping stabilize the situation.

“It’s down to a temperature around 61 degrees, with 50 being its happy place so those efforts are succeeding," he said.

“Our group is going to do everything they can to come up with a third, a fourth, a fifth option," he added.

Health officials urged residents to report any “fruity and heavy smell," associated with the chemical. No injuries had been reported by Friday night, while emergency crews continued preparing containment measures to prevent any spill from entering storm drains or the ocean.

News world Chemical Leak Triggers Mass Evacuations In California, Firefighters Race To Prevent Explosion

Read More