Chemical Leak At Texas Facility Leaves 2 Dead And 35 Others Affected

A chemical leak at a Texas facility has left two people dead and 35 others affected.

The chemical leak occurred at the PEMEX facility in Deer Park on Thursday.

PEMEX processes crude oil to produce gasoline and other fuels.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies and the Deer Park Fire Department responded to the PEMEX facility for a report of a hydrogen sulfide leak.

Hydrogen Sulfide is a colorless toxic gas that has an extremely foul smell.

The site is now being contained, and officials have assured the public there are no offsite impacts.

There is Deer Park, Texas news. 2 are dead and 35 hurt in a hydrogen sulfide leak at a Texas Pemex refinery facility; a shelter-in-place was lifted. https://t.co/x5edFs0nLv pic.twitter.com/GmrCkGpvGu

— ABC30 Fresno (@ABC30) October 11, 2024

🇺🇸 SHELTER-IN-PLACE ISSUED AFTER DEADLY CHEMICAL RELEASE AT SHELL PEMEX FACILITY IN DEER PARK, TX

Residents in Deer Park and parts of Pasadena, TX, are urged to shelter-in-place after a Hydrogen Sulfide release at the Shell Pemex facility around 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Highway 225… pic.twitter.com/PsPCw9Jlm6

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 11, 2024

Check out what USA Today reported:

At least two people are dead, and nearly three dozen others suffered injuries after a chemical leak at an oil refinery Thursday, prompting a shelter-in-place order for two East Texas cities, officials said.

The leak took place at Pemex Deer Park, about 18 miles east of Houston, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said.

The department reported deputies, and the Deer Park Fire Department responded to the facility at 5:23 p.m. local time for a report of a hydrogen sulfide leak, a colorless gas with a strong odor.

The facility where the incident occurred was a refinery that processes crude oil to produce gasoline and other fuels.

Officials announced a shelter-in-place order for Deer Park and Pasadena after the leak.

2 dead, 35 hurt after chemical leak at PEMEX facility in Texas @WKRN pic.twitter.com/c9HdMTFV6T

— Megan Fee (@meganfeetv) October 11, 2024

Per ABC News:

Two people are dead and at least 35 others were affected after a chemical leak involving hydrogen sulfide occurred at a PEMEX facility in Deer Park, officials said on Thursday.

The extent of injuries is unknown due to officials not being able to make entry into the affected unit, officials said.

Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton gave reassurance to community members that there was not a chemical leak in the surrounding area, despite the smell of hydrogen sulfide seeping out into the air.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the scene remains preliminary and fluid, but noted the “situation seems contained to the scene, and no threat to the external community.”

In a statement to ABC News Thursday, PEMEX Deer Park said the gas release was reported at one of its operating units at 4:40 p.m. CDT.

The facility said members of its emergency response team, Channel Industrial Mutual Aid (CIMA) and Harris County Emergency Management personnel and other government agencies are on site and responding to the situation.

As officials assess the situation State Highway 225 has been temporarily closed, the facility said.

“Some members of the community may see flaring as we safely contain the situation,” the facility said in the statement. “We are closely monitoring air quality and are not detecting any offsite impacts.”