A chemical plant containing hydrogen sulphide (H2S) at the Pemex oil refinery in Deer Park, Texas, United States (US) resulted in two fatalities and injured at least 35 others on Thursday, October 10 at night.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez reported that workers were performing maintenance on a flange when an unexpected accident caused the gas to escape.
The Deer Park’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM), US, received notice of the incident on Thursday, October 10, around 5:23 p.m
Gonzalez estimated that it would take seven to eight hours for investigators to reach the site of the incident.
In the aftermath of the leak, Pemex indicated that they were conducting work that might lead to flaring.
According to a company statement, Pemex shut down the 92,000-barrel-per-day coker and a hydrotreater at the refinery following the gas release.
Deer Park’s OEM announced that the Shelter-in-Place order has been lifted.
Reports from Harris County Pollution Control and Centre for Toxicology and Environmental Health (CTEH) indicate that there are no hazardous chemicals present in the community.
Deer Park acknowledged the presence of the odour but assured the community that there is no danger.
“Harris County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that 35 Pemex employees were triaged and 2 have been confirmed as deceased.
“The majority of mutual aid resources have been released and Hillsborough County Sheriff Office (HCSO) will continue their investigation,” it said.
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