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Photo by: Raquel Natalicchio(Staff photographer)
A federal agency that investigates industrial incidents said Friday that it would work to identify the cause of a deadly gas leak at a refinery outside Houston operated by Pemex, Mexico's state-owned oil company.
The release of poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas at the Pemex refinery in Deer Park on Thursday killed two refinery workers, prompted 13 hospitalizations and injured at least 35 people. It also prompted a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents.
Hydrogen sulfide is a deadly gas that often smells like rotten eggs, but can also be odorless at high levels. It can be found in crude oil and is a byproduct of refining processes.
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, a federal agency that investigates the causes of major chemical incidents, said Friday in a statement that the incident outside Houston was "very serious" and it "potentially put the surrounding community at risk." The federal agency does not have the authority to fine Pemex, but it can make safety recommendations to companies, labor groups and regulatory agencies.
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