USA: Hydrogen Sulfide Leak Claims Lives at Deer Park Oil Refinery
Deer Park, Texas— A tragic incident occurred at a Houston-area oil refinery on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of at least two workers due to a hydrogen sulfide leak. The leak prompted immediate safety warnings for local residents to remain indoors, although authorities later confirmed that there was no ongoing threat to the public.
In total, nearly three dozen individuals received medical attention, with some transported to hospitals, as reported by Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. He indicated that the situation remained hazardous for first responders, delaying their entry into the affected area until at least Friday.
The facility, operated by Pemex, Mexico’s state-owned oil company, is situated in the suburb of Deer Park, part of a significant cluster of oil refineries that define Houston’s role as a key player in the petrochemical industry.
Gonzalez noted that the gas leak occurred during maintenance work on a flange at the plant. In response, Pemex announced that it had proactively halted operations at two of its units to minimize the impact of the incident.
Local authorities initially issued a shelter-in-place order but quickly lifted it after air quality monitoring indicated no danger to the surrounding community, according to Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton. Chief meteorologist David Paul from CBS Houston affiliate KHOU-TV reported that calm winds contributed to the situation Thursday night.
Hydrogen sulfide is notorious for its foul odor and potential toxicity in high concentrations. “Aside from the smell, we have not detected any verifiable air quality issues outside the facility,” Mouton stated.
News coverage showed multiple ambulances and emergency vehicles responding to the incident. Earlier, Sheriff Gonzalez had reported on social media that one individual was transported via helicopter, but later clarified that no airlifts took place during the response.
This incident marks the second shelter-in-place order in Deer Park within weeks, following a recent pipeline fire that led to evacuations in nearby neighborhoods and burned for four consecutive days.
