The flow of toxic chemicals forces thousands of people to evacuate near Los Angeles

The tank under pressure contains about 7,000 gallons of methyl metacryli, a highly unstable and flammable substance used to make plastics, reports BBCPeriscope broadcast.

"Two possibilities remain literally,"Chief of the Orange District Fire Authority Division, Craig Covey: "Reservari on Friday breaks down and spills... Or, two, the reservoir goes into a thermal channel and explodes. "

Space targets in the town of Garden Grove are about 8km from Disneyland, which is outside the evacuation area and opened as normal, and about 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

Local schools have been closed as a precaution and the exits of several main roads have been closed to limit access to the area.

Orange County Health Officer Regina Chinsio Kwong said that anyone who notes"a heavy and fruit wind"should inform authorities.

It doesn't mean you've reached a level that causes symptoms. But we don't want you to smell that,"she said.

The evacuation area has expanded as fire crews worked all night to reduce the temperature of the chemical reservoir.

On Friday evening, officials said they had cooled the reservoir in about 16C (61F) and intended to lower it to 11C (51F). It's one of three in the facility.

The fire chief, Covey, said at a press conference Friday afternoon that if the reservoir is poured out, very bad <x0chemical"will flow into the parking area around the object.

"or two, the reservoir goes into a thermal channel and explodes, affecting tanks around it that also have fuel or chemicals inside it. "

This is not a precautionary measure,"he said. "This thing will fail and we don't know when... We are doing our best to see when or how we can prevent it. "

A team of dangerous materials has worked with experts to find a way to reduce pressure from the affected reservoir and limit exposure.

O The CFA earlier said a cooling operation had been successful and the teams had made progress towards the secure emptying of the reservoir, but that an useless <x0valvul"had created additional operational"fix3>.

Covey also said evacuation orders would remain in force at the moment.

I woke up from sirens falling on our streets", said Friday about NBC LA Mark Olsen, who was evacuated at the Sports and Recreative Garden Drive Centre.

Then I was told that they were being evacuated, so I took some things and got out of there", Olsen said.

But I didn't know what would happen to the chemical plant, or when it could return home, it was too heavy.

It's just frustrating", Olsen said.

The facility is operated by GKNAAspace, a company with headquarters in the United Kingdom that supplies aircraft parts.

A company spokesman apologised to local residents and said: "The situation remains ongoing, and we are fully focused on co-operation with emergency services, specialising teams of dangerous materials and relevant authorities to ensure the safety of the local community, our employees and all involved. "