A hydrogen sulfide leak at a refinery near Houston on Thursday claimed the lives of two workers and left nearly three dozen others either hospitalized or treated on-site, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. The leak occurred at a Pemex-operated refinery in Deer Park, a suburb of Houston, prompting an immediate shelter-in-place order for nearby residents. Authorities later confirmed the public was not in danger.
The incident unfolded as workers were repairing a flange at the refinery, located within Houston's extensive petrochemical hub. The highly toxic hydrogen sulfide gas, known for its foul smell, can be lethal at high concentrations. Pemex, Mexico's state-owned oil company, announced that two units at the plant were "proactively halted" to mitigate the leak's impact, and investigations into the cause of the leak are underway.
Authorities faced challenges accessing the affected area for hours after the leak due to unsafe conditions. Gonzalez said it may take until Friday for investigators to enter the facility and assess the situation fully.
While the plant's operations were suspended, air quality monitoring showed no significant risk to the surrounding community. Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton lifted the shelter-in-place order hours later, reassuring residents that no toxic substances had escaped the facility, aside from the noticeable odor.
Emergency response teams, including multiple ambulances and other vehicles, were deployed to the scene. Earlier reports of a person being airlifted to a hospital were later clarified, with officials confirming that no one was transported by helicopter.
This incident marks the second emergency in Deer Park within recent weeks. In September, a pipeline fire raged for four days, forcing nearby residents to evacuate.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as investigations into the leak proceed.
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