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At least 2 killed and dozens injured after leak at Texas oil refinery

DEER PARK, Texas: At least two workers were killed, and nearly three dozen others were injured following a hydrogen sulfide leak at an oil refinery in Deer Park, a suburb of Houston, Texas.

The leak triggered an urgent shelter-in-place order for nearby residents, although officials later determined there was no public danger.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez reported that the injured individuals were either transported to local hospitals or treated at the scene. The refinery, operated by Pemex, Mexico’s state-owned oil company, is part of the petrochemical hub in the Houston area. Due to safety concerns, officials were unable to access the facility immediately after the incident.

The gas leak occurred while workers were repairing a flange, according to Gonzalez. Hydrogen sulfide, a gas that smells like rotten eggs and can be toxic in high concentrations, was released, prompting Pemex to temporarily shut down operations at two units to prevent further risks. The company said investigations were underway.

Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton confirmed that the shelter-in-place order, which had been put in place following the leak, was lifted after air quality monitoring showed no significant risk to the surrounding community. “Other than the smell, we have not had any verifiable air monitoring to support that anything got outside the facility,” Mouton said.

The incident marks the second time in recent weeks that Deer Park has issued shelter-in-place orders. A pipeline fire last month burned for four days, forcing nearby neighborhoods to evacuate.

Emergency responders, including multiple ambulances and fire trucks, were seen at the site. Initially, reports suggested that one person had been airlifted to a hospital, but officials later clarified that no airlifts occurred.

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