Over 40 treated amid sulfuric acid leak at industrial facility near Houston, officials say

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas -- A sulfuric acerb leak astatine an concern works successful southeast Texas sent 2 radical to the infirmary and led to implicit 40 radical being treated, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said the incidental began astir 2 a.m. connected Saturday astatine the BWC Terminals installation erstwhile a catwalk operation collapsed onto a 6-inch sulfuric acerb proviso enactment astatine the concern works adjacent Channelview.

The Channelview Fire District, which led the hazmat response, said crews were sent to the 16300-block of Jacintoport Boulevard.

The sheriff's bureau said 2 radical with breathing problems were taken to the hospital, and radical from 2 ships docked astatine the San Jacinto Port were checked astatine the scene.

ABC Houston affiliate KTRK captured what appeared to beryllium the damaged scaffolding that officials said caused the leak.

In an update aboriginal that morning, Judge Lina Hidalgo said biology monitoring was underway aft astir 1 cardinal gallons of sulfuric acerb stored successful a vessel were released, with immoderate leaking into the Houston Ship Channel.

BWC Terminals aboriginal clarified successful a connection that the affected vessel was carrying 1 cardinal gallons, but astir of it was released into the facility's designated containment area. The institution added that an chartless magnitude of merchandise entered the h2o of the Houston Ship Channel and that determination were nary reported impacts connected marine life.

Hidalgo besides said that the 2 radical sent to the infirmary had already been released, and that 44 others were treated astatine the scene.

The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office said it was besides connected the country and monitoring aerial prime aft respective reports of radical feeling sick and having occupation breathing.

The sheriff's bureau said determination was nary information to the nationalist due to the fact that the leak was constricted to the concern area, truthful a shelter-in-place bid was not needed.

Deputies said the Houston Ship Channel remained open, but immoderate adjacent roads were closed to fto exigency vehicles get through.

Investigators said chemic spills similar this are rare, but the companies progressive person "some of the best" hazmat teams to grip specified situations.

Deputies told KTRK the leak was stopped a small aft 6 a.m.

Judge Lina Hidalgo said an probe into the leak is underway.