Fuel Gas Leak In 1993 Lx 4cyl?

[Tavis]

I have been noticing a gas smell from my 93 LX hatchback 4cyl. Today I finally parked it in the basement due to the cooler weather and noticed the smell was incredibly strong. I got to looking around and found this on the back of the gas tank.

http://imgur.com/a/tz7rT#0

What could have happened? I haven't hit anything, ran over anything, or backed into anything. There are no marks to indicate it either.
Also, I do NOT see any gas dripping on the concrete floor as of yet.

Is the tank rusting out or did the weld near the top just come apart over time?

What does it normally cost to fix an issue like this?

Most importantly, is it dangerous to continue driving it in this condition or is it OK until I can get it to a shop?

 

[91TwighlightGT]

You need to drop the fuel tank, you really can't see anything in that picture. It could be the pump seal at the top of the tank, or a leaking line going into the top of the tank. The fuel would likely roll back on the tank under acceleration and run down in that manner.

The tank can go bad, but it is pretty uncommon. I had to replace mine because the previous owner backed into something. They can be had on Rockauto.com for around $100.

 

[tca7291]

Also pull that car back out of your basement! Gas fumes are highly flammable, and in enough concentration could burn your house down!