A hazardous chemical leak in Orange County has evolved into one of Southern California’s most serious industrial emergencies in recent years, prompting evacuation orders affecting approximately 40,000 residents across six communities. Authorities warned on Friday that an overheated storage tank containing methyl methacrylate, a volatile industrial chemical used in plastics manufacturing, could either rupture and release toxic chemicals into the surrounding area or explode, potentially triggering a wider industrial disaster.
