by Admin
October 12, 2024
Two people have been confirmed dead and over thirty people have been hospitalized after a chemical spill at an oil refinery in Houston, Texas.
The two men were workers of the refinery company and were exposed after a hydrogen sulfide leaked into the atmosphere which set off the alarm system alerting the workers and residents to stay away and inside their houses to prevent exposing themselves to chemical radiation.
Confirming the horrific incident was Ed Gonzalez, the Harris county’s sheriff, who was at the scene of the incident hours later.
He said “the area was still unsafe for investigators to enter and that officials may not be able to get inside until Friday”.
The Sheriff further explained 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 a petrochemical heartland”.
The plant is owned by Pemex, Mexico’s state-owned oil company, and located in the suburb of Deer Park.
In a statement issued by the company, it explained that diligent investigation into what caused the leak has begun and operations in the oil refinery have been suspended in two units with the aim of controlling the impact of the leak.
Jerry Mouton, the Mayor of Deer Park, has expressed his sympathy to the victims of the leak and has assured the public of guaranteed safety, he said “Other than the smell, we have not had any verifiable air monitoring to support that anything got outside the facility”.
Deer Park City officials City issued a shelter-in-place order which was later lifted hours later after air monitoring team members assured the public of no risk to the surrounding community.