Two Dead, 35 Injured in Pemex Deer Park Refinery Leak; Shelter Orders Lifted

Oct 11, 2024, 05:40 AM

On Thursday evening, a hydrogen sulfide gas leak at Pemex's 312,500-barrels-per-day Deer Park refinery near Houston, Texas, resulted in the deaths of two workers and injured at least 35 others, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. The incident prompted the Pasadena Fire Department to issue shelter-in-place orders for residents north of Spencer Highway in Pasadena and in Deer Park; these orders have since been lifted after Harris County Pollution Control completed air monitoring and found no risk to the public. Highway 225 was temporarily closed, and vehicles were diverted off SH-225. Emergency services responded promptly, with one person transported via Lifeflight. Pemex stated that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the accident and that there were no impacts to the surrounding community.