Chemical leak at Houston-area plant kills 2 workers, injures several others, prompts citywide shelter – KentWired

(CNN) – A chemical leak at a PEMEX oil refinery in Deer Park, Texas, killed two workers and injured several others on Thursday, prompting temporary shelter-in-place orders for residents across the city, officials said .

The leak occurred around 4:20 p.m., sending hydrogen sulfide, a colorless and potentially toxic gas, seeping into the air at the plant, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Two bodies were found at the scene and at least 35 more were “triaged,” the sheriff said at a news conference Thursday night. It is unclear how many were treated at the scene or taken to a medical facility.

PEMEX, a Mexico-based oil company, said in a statement in Spanish that operations were halted once the leak was detected and local authorities notified.

Shelter-in-place orders were issued for the city of Deer Park, as well as some residents of neighboring Pasadena, as emergency officials told residents to stay indoors, close all windows and doors and turn off the air conditioners. The orders have since been lifted after air monitoring determined no hazardous chemicals had permeated the surrounding community, city officials said.

“We have not received any air monitoring reports that show that anything has been introduced into the community that could be of concern to all the constituents of Deer Park,” said Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton, note that air control will be ongoing.

Hydrogen sulfide, commonly used in oil and gas refining, has a pungent “rotten egg” odor that can linger in the air, Mouton said.

The local utility company, CenterPoint, has received several calls reporting possible gas leaks as the smell reaches neighborhoods, the mayor said. He reiterated that no danger has been detected outside the plant.

“Other than the smell, we’ve had no verifiable air monitoring to support that anything has gone outside the facility,” Mouton said.

Investigators have yet to enter the facility because fire and hazmat personnel are still working to reduce chemical levels inside the plant, Gonzalez said. The process will likely take all night, he added.

State Route 225 was briefly closed near Beltway 8, but has since reopened, the sheriff said.

The sheriff’s office will lead an investigation into the incident, Gonzalez said. PEMEX also said an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the leak.

Just last month, Deer Park residents battled a pipeline fire that erupted when an SUV crashed into a liquid natural gas valve along its border with La Porte. The days-long blaze damaged nearby homes, melted vehicles and prompted the evacuation of about 100 homes in southeast Houston.

This story has been updated with additional information.