2 Dead, Over 35 Injured After Chemical Leak at Deer Park Refinery
Two individuals have been confirmed dead, and more than 35 others were injured following a chemical leak at a Pemex refinery in Deer Park on Thursday evening.
Officials at the Pemex facility, located at 5900 Highway 225, explained that they were managing an emergency, which had begun at approximately 4:40 p.m. This information was shared later through an official statement.
The chemical involved in the incident was hydrogen sulfide, a highly toxic, colorless gas recognized for its strong “rotten egg” odor at low levels. It is not only extremely flammable but also dangerous, with the potential to cause anything from mild headaches and eye irritation to unconsciousness and death, even in small amounts.
During a press briefing on Thursday night, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez mentioned that authorities were still investigating whether there could be additional fatalities.
Eyewitness reports indicated that multiple ambulances were on-site, with two Life Flight helicopters on standby.
Following air quality checks by Harris County Pollution Control, city officials from Pasadena and Deer Park lifted shelter-in-place orders after confirming no further detection of hazardous chemicals in the atmosphere.
Pemex, a refinery that processes crude oil from various regions, produces a wide range of products, including gasoline, aviation fuel, diesel, and marine fuel.
Approximately 90 minutes after the incident began, Pemex released the following update:
“PEMEX Deer Park confirms that a gas release was detected at one of our operational units at 4:40 p.m. The incident is contained within our facility and has been isolated. Our Emergency Response Team, along with Channel Industrial Mutual Aid (CIMA) and Harris County Emergency Management personnel, are on-site and responding.
Our top priority is ensuring the safety of everyone involved and securing the facility. As a precaution, State Highway 225 has been temporarily closed. Some members of the community may observe flaring as we work to safely manage the situation. We are closely monitoring air quality, and there are no signs of offsite impacts at this time. We will provide further updates as more information becomes available.”
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