Chemical leak at Pemex plant in Deer Park, Texas, leaves at least two dead, several injured and temporary shelter in place orders

()— A chemical leak at a Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) oil refinery in Deer Park, Texas, on Thursday left two workers dead and injured several others, prompting temporary shelter-in-place orders for residents across the state. the city, authorities said.

The leak occurred around 4:20 p.m., releasing hydrogen sulfide, a colorless and potentially toxic gas, into the plant’s air, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Two bodies were found at the scene and at least 35 people were “classified,” the sheriff said at a news conference Thursday night. It is unclear how many were treated at the scene or taken to a medical facility.

PEMEX, an oil company based in Mexico, said in a statement that operations were stopped once the leak was detected and local authorities were notified.

Shelter-in-place orders were issued for the city of Deer Park, as well as some residents of neighboring Pasadena, as emergency responders told residents to stay indoors, close all windows and doors, and turn off your air conditioners. The orders have been lifted after air monitoring determined there were no hazardous chemicals in the surrounding community, city ​​officials said.

“We have not received any air monitoring reports that show anything has reached the community that would be a concern to Deer Park residents,” said Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton, noting that air monitoring will continue.

Hydrogen sulfide, commonly used in oil and gas refining, has a pungent “rotten egg” odor that can linger in the air, Mouton said.

The local utility, CenterPoint, received several calls reporting possible gas leaks as the smell moved into neighborhoods, the mayor said. He reiterated that no danger has been detected outside the plant.

“Other than the odor, we have not had any verifiable air monitoring to support that anything came out of the facility,” Mouton said.

Investigators have not yet entered the facility because hazardous materials personnel and the fire marshal are still working to reduce chemical levels inside the plant, Gonzalez said. The process will likely last all night, he added.

State Highway 225 was briefly closed near Beltway 8, but has since reopened, the sheriff said.

The sheriff’s office will lead an investigation into the incident, Gonzalez said. Pemex also said an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the leak.

Last month, Deer Park residents dealt with a pipeline fire that broke out when an SUV crashed into a liquefied natural gas valve along its border with La Porte. The fire, which raged for several days, damaged nearby homes, melted vehicles and led to the evacuation of about 100 homes southeast of Houston.