Toledo Residents Evacuated After Chemical Tank Explosion; Second Blast Feared
A chemical storage tank exploded at about 9:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday at M.C. Tank Terminal, 1050 Progress Avenue in North Toledo, Ohio, sending a dense chemical plume into the air. Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said at a Wednesday morning press conference that the tank held glycidyl methacrylate and had a capacity of 5,500 gallons. Toledo Fire & Rescue ordered residents within a one-mile radius to evacuate at 10:48 p.m. Tuesday; the order affected more than 900 people. At 4:24 a.m. Wednesday, officials expanded precautions, advising everyone within three miles to shelter in place, closing windows and doors and turning off ventilation systems that draw in outside air.
Kapszukiewicz warned that the tank could still be explosive within 12 hours of the incident, and first responders, hazmat crews and safety teams were not approaching the tank because of the risk of a second explosion. They planned to reassess conditions later Wednesday morning. "There is still concern that the tank is emitting this chemical and it has potential within 12 hours of the incident to be explosive," the mayor said. MC Tank Transport said in a statement that its immediate concern is the safety of residents, first responders and employees, that it is working with authorities, and that it urges everyone in the area to follow evacuation and shelter-in-place instructions.
MC Tank Transport identified the chemical as glycidyl methacrylate, which it described as "an industrial chemical used to make certain plastics, paints and coatings perform better." Kapszukiewicz said the substance is liquid inside the tank but becomes a gas when released. The city described it as an irritant that can cause burning of the eyes, nose, mouth and skin, with symptoms of overexposure including headache, dizziness, tiredness, nausea and vomiting. The Environmental Protection Agency said the leaked adhesive coating is not highly toxic but can irritate eyes, skin and lungs. A dense fog in the area complicated monitoring, making drones unable to see from above, officials said.
A sheriff's deputy was injured when he responded to the explosion around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and was able to drive himself to the hospital; Kapszukiewicz provided no information about the deputy's condition. Evacuees were taken to temporary shelters at a nearby elementary school and a Meijer parking lot where Red Cross and public transit buses were stationed. Some local school districts canceled classes on Wednesday. Local resident Paul Pavlisack posted on Facebook that he was taken to the hospital after the incident, saying "What a morning so far. I should be ok just getting checked out from the hazardous waste that exploded in Toledo, Ohio."
Hazmat crews continued containment work while officials monitored the continuing release. The city said people outside the evacuation and shelter zones who notice an unusual smell should contact a medical professional, and those with serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness or confusion should call 911. Emergency shelters remained open and some schools stayed closed Wednesday as crews reassessed the tank.