One Fatality, Multiple Injuries from Hydrogen Sulfide Leak in Houston

A hydrogen sulfide leak at a plant in Houston has led to one fatality and multiple injuries. Emergency responders swiftly arrived to contain the situation and assist the injured. The incident has raised concerns about safety protocols in chemical facilities. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the leak and prevent similar occurrences in the future, ensuring the well-being of workers and the surrounding community.

One of the injured individuals was airlifted to a hospital, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez's post on the social media platform X

At least two workers at a Houston-area oil refinery died Thursday following a hydrogen sulfide leak, prompting urgent warnings for nearby residents to remain indoors. Authorities later confirmed that the public was not in danger.

Nearly three dozen individuals were either taken to hospitals or treated on-site, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. Hours after the leak began, he stated that the area remained unsafe for investigators and that access might not be possible until Friday.

The refinery, operated by Pemex, Mexico's state-owned oil company, is situated in the Deer Park suburb.

Gonzalez indicated that the gas leak occurred while work was being done on a flange at the facility, which is part of a cluster of oil refineries that makes Houston the petrochemical capital of the nation.

Pemex released a statement saying that investigations were underway and that operations had been proactively halted at two units to minimize the impact.

City officials issued a shelter-in-place order but later lifted it after air monitoring indicated no risk to the local community, Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton reported. Hydrogen sulfide is a noxious gas that can be toxic at high concentrations.

Aside from the odor, Mouton stated that there was no verifiable air monitoring to confirm that any gas had escaped the facility.

Television news crews captured images of multiple ambulances and emergency vehicles at the site. Although Gonzalez initially posted on the social platform X that one person was airlifted to a hospital, officials later clarified at a news conference that no one was transported by helicopter.

This incident marked the second shelter-in-place order in Deer Park within weeks, following a pipeline fire last month that burned for four days and led to the evacuation of nearby neighborhoods.

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Source: business standard‍