May 26, 2026:
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Thousands of people who live near a damaged hazardous chemical tank in Southern California still can’t return home, even as officials say the risk of a catastrophic explosion had largely passed. Officials ordered evacuations in Garden Grove near Los Angeles last Thursday (May 21, 2026) after the tank at an aerospace plane overheated. About 16,000 of roughly 50,000 evacuees are still waiting for the all-clear. The tank contains methyl methacrylate, which is highly flammable. Health officials have assured residents that there was no contamination or fumes released. Officials say they will keep monitoring the air for several months and checking the sewer and storm drains.
May 25, 2026:
UNDATED-AP- Authorities are trying to tamp down the risk of a possible explosion or leak of a damaged chemical tank at a facility in Southern California. A crack found in the tank over the weekend could lower the risk of an explosion and does not appear to be leaking. An evacuation order remained in effect for some 50,000 residents of Garden Grove and surrounding communities with no timeline for their return. No injuries have been reported. Firefighters hope to cool off the chemical inside the tank to prevent an explosion or leak. Experts say a leak would be far better than an explosion. A state senator says the tank’s interior temperature reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday.
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