Police said the leak sent hydrogen sulfide, a potentially toxic and flammable gas, into the air.
At least two people have died and multiple others have been injured following a chemical leak at a Pemex oil refinery in Deer Park, Texas, on Thursday, police said.
The leak occurred as employees were working on a flange, typically used to connect pumps, Gonzalez said.
The sheriff described the situation as fluid and said the current information was preliminary, noting it may take several hours to conduct a full assessment of the incident; possibly even the whole night.
Law enforcement officials are currently working with Mexico-based Pemex to confirm further details surrounding the incident, he noted.
“This incident occurred on PEMEX property, so ultimately, they’re going to have to be the ones to answer and be held accountable for whatever transpired that,” Gonzalez said. “We’re just trying to focus right now on the response, making sure everyone is safe, and that the broader community is safe.”
Gonzalez was joined by Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton Jr. at the press conference. Both repeatedly insisted that there is currently no threat to the broader community, although they said “remnants of odors” of hydrogen sulfide remain in the air.
Air monitoring equipment is currently at the site, Gonzalez said.
“With that said, as the mayor stated, we don’t believe there’s any threat beyond the complex itself unless there’s some type of unplanned upset that may occur,” the sheriff said.
A state highway next to the refinery was also closed for a few hours. The highway has since reopened.
The company said it shut the 92,000 barrels per day coker and a hydrotreater at the refinery after the release began to mitigate the impact.
“No impact on the community has been reported,” it said. “The corresponding investigations are being carried out to determine the causes of the accident and work is being done to reactivate the facilities.”
The gas is used by or produced as a byproduct across some industries including oil and gas refining, pulp and paper processing, and mining.
Exposure to high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide can irritate the respiratory tract and lead to symptoms such as nausea, headaches, delirium, tremors, and convulsions.
In more extreme cases, inhalation of high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide can lead to death.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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