Hydrogen release from a KH2 tanker

A tanker was carrying 25 m3 of liquid hydrogen and was parked in the parking lot of a road restaurant. The hydrogen escaped through the safety devices of the tank and then dispersed (the weather was wet and there was fog).
Technicians from the charter company degassed the tank until the leak stopped, then escorted the truck to a technical centre.
A crack in the inner tank causing a pressure build-up could be the cause of the accident.

According to the ARIA report, the INITIATING CAUSE was a crack in the inner tank.
The crack probably caused liquid hydrogen leaking into the annular vacuum space, evaporating and reducing the thermal insulation capacity of the vacuum shell. The increased heat flow caused a pressure build-up and triggered the over-pressure safeguard.

vacuum thermal insulation

No consequence except the release to the atmosphere of more than 1700 kg of hydrogen (Assuming a cost of 15 US$, it could be possible tto estimate the property loss).

The event happened at 23:30. Rescue services interrupted road traffic, established a safety perimeter 400 m on either side of the truck, installed 2 protective hoses and evacuated 78 people to a gymnasium.

Technicians from the charter company operated to degas the tank until the leak stopped, then escorted the truck to a technical centre. At about 07:00, the emergency services carried out explosimetry measurements in the neighbouring buildings and allowed the residents to return to their homes.