AssetID: 55727926
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: California Officials Say Massive Chemical Explosion Threat Has Been Avoided
Caption: California Officials Say Massive Chemical Explosion Threat Has Been Avoided. California fire officials say the threat of a massive chemical tank explosion in Orange County has now been eliminated after emergency crews worked through the night to stabilize the site. The damaged tank contained thousands of gallons of methyl methacrylate, a highly flammable chemical used in plastics manufacturing. Officials had feared a dangerous BLEVE explosion after the tank cracked and pressure rapidly built up inside. Crews continuously sprayed the tank with water to reduce temperatures and safely release pressure. Authorities say the risk of a catastrophic blast is now “off the table.” However, around 16,000 residents are still under evacuation orders as crews continue monitoring for possible leaks. At its peak, nearly 50,000 people across several Southern California cities were impacted by emergency evacuations after the incident triggered a state of emergency declaration. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,California,chemical,explosion,Orange County,methyl methacrylate,flammable,BLEVE,tank,pressure,evacuation,residents,leaks,emergency,blast,firefighters
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