By Nina Giraldo, Taylor Romine, Emma Tucker, CNN
Firefighters have found a potential crack in the massive tank filled with a toxic chemical at risk of explosion in Southern California, officials said Sunday (all times local). The crack may be relieving pressure inside, which could change the responding team's approach as tens of thousands remain evacuated and officials race to stave off a potentially catastrophic blast.
About 50,000 people in Orange County have been told to evacuate, with many spending the Memorial Day weekend in shelters, hotels or with friends and family outside the danger zone. Busy tourist destinations like Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm are nearby but are not included in the evacuation zone.
The chemical inside the tank, methyl methacrylate, or MMA, can cause respiratory issues and irritation to the skin and eyes upon exposure, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
"Our firefighters went in, and they were able to visualize the tank. What they found was a potential crack in the tank, which could potentially be relieving some of the pressure in there," Orange County Fire Authority Interim Fire Chief TJ McGovern said Sunday.
