At least two workers were tragically killed, and dozens more were injured following a leak at a Texas oil refinery near Houston. The incident, which occurred at a plant operated by Pemex, Mexico’s state-owned oil company, led to urgent warnings for nearby residents to stay indoors as a safety precaution.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez reported that nearly three dozen individuals were either taken to hospitals for treatment or received medical attention on-site. Due to ongoing safety concerns, authorities were unable to enter the affected area immediately after the leak and were anticipating delays in the investigation until the following day.
The leak, caused by work on a flange at the facility, took place in Deer Park, a suburb known for its concentration of oil refineries and plants. Despite the grim outcome, officials assured the public that there was no imminent danger to the surrounding community after conducting air quality assessments and lifting a shelter-in-place order that had been issued earlier.
Hydrogen sulfide, the gas responsible for the leak, is not only foul-smelling but can also be toxic at high concentrations. City officials, including Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton, emphasised that measures were taken promptly to address the situation and to ensure the safety of residents and workers in the area.
This is not the first time Deer Park has faced such an incident, as just weeks prior, a pipeline fire had necessitated evacuations in the neighbourhoods nearby. Investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of the leak and to prevent similar tragedies in the future.