POSSIBLE CHEMICAL EXPLOSION, MORE THAN 44,000 PEOPLE EVACUATED

SAINT ANNA, MAY 23 /SRNA/ - More than 44,000 people have been evacuated from several cities in Southern California due to the risk of a possible explosion of a tank containing a toxic chemical at an aerospace facility in Orange County.

Local authorities warned that the damaged tank could fail at any moment and potentially explode.

Orange County Fire Authority Chief Craig Covey said the industrial tank at the facility contains around 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate /approximately 26,500 liters/, a highly volatile, easily flammable, toxic substance used in plastic production.

Covey told CBS News that the current situation is one of the most dangerous he has faced during his 32 years in the fire service.

According to him, there are two remaining possibilities: either the tank will leak and release between 6,000 and 7,000 gallons of hazardous chemicals, or uncontrolled heating will occur, leading to an explosion that could also affect nearby fuel and chemical tanks.

Officials previously stated that there are three tanks at the facility, with one of the three compromised in its cooling system.