New Delhi, May 25 -- A potentially catastrophic chemical emergency in Southern California eased significantly on Monday (May 25) after firefighters confirmed that pressure inside an overheating industrial tank had been relieved through a crack in the container, sharply reducing the risk of an explosion.

The incident unfolded at a manufacturing facility operated by GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, California, where a large storage tank containing thousands of gallons of methyl methacrylate - a highly flammable industrial chemical used in plastics manufacturing - overheated and began venting vapors.

Although authorities say the immediate explosion risk has diminished, evacuation orders affecting roughly 50,000 residents remain in place whil...