LOS ANGELES, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The threat of an explosion due to pressure buildup inside a toxic chemical tank at an aerospace manufacturing facility in Garden Grove, Southern California, has been eliminated, local fire authorities said early Monday.
Interim Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority TJ McGovern said the risk of a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion, which had prompted a hazardous materials emergency response since Thursday, is no longer a concern.
Fire officials said temperatures and pressure levels inside the tank had stabilized and were declining. Authorities confirmed overnight that a crack in the tank had released the built-up pressure, marking a major turning point in the incident.
Around 50,000 residents in portions of six Southern California cities remain under evacuation orders due to the emergency.
