DEER PARK, Texas (AP) — Authorities have confirmed that two people died and at least 35 were injured after a chemical leak Thursday after hydrogen sulfide leaked at the plant, setting off urgent warnings for nearby residents to stay indoors before authorities later determined that the public was not in danger. In a press conference Thursday night, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said authorities are working to learn if there are any more deaths.
Nearly three dozen other people were either transported to hospitals or treated at the scene, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said. Hours after the leak began, Gonzalez said the area was still unsafe for investigators to enter and that officials may not be able to get inside until Friday.
Hydrogen sulfide (also known as H2S, sewer gas, swamp gas, stink damp, and sour damp) is a colorless gas known for its pungent "rotten egg" odor at low concentrations. It is extremely flammable and highly toxic. Hydrogen sulfide also occurs naturally in sewers, manure pits, well water, oil and gas wells, and volcanoes. It can cause mild headaches, eye irritation, unconsciousness, and death-- even at low concentrations.
Gonzalez said that the gas release happened during work on a flange at the facility, which is part of a cluster of oil refineries and plants that makes Houston the nation’s petrochemical heartland. City officials issued a shelter-in-place order but lifted it hours later after air monitoring showed no risk to the surrounding community, Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton said. Hydrogen sulfide is a foul-smelling gas can be toxic at high levels. “Other than the smell, we have not had any verifiable air monitoring to support that anything got outside the facility,” Mouton said.
Pemex officials released the following statement:
"PEMEX Deer Park confirms that a gas release was reported at one of our operating units at 4:40 p.m. The incident is contained to our site and has been isolated. Members of our 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. Our primary concerns are to ensure the safety of everyone involved and to secure the facility. Out of an abundance of caution, State Highway 225 has been temporarily closed. Some members of the community may see flaring as we safely contain the situation. We are closely monitoring air quality and are not detecting any offsite impacts. We have no additional details at this time. We will provide an update when more information becomes known.".
The plant is operated by Pemex, Mexico’s state-owned oil company, and located in the suburb of Deer Park.
Information provided by & Article credit: ABC13 Houston & KPLC 7 News