DEER PARK, Texas – Amid a growing number of lawsuits against PEMEX Deer Park over a deadly gas leak, three more residents have called on prominent Houston attorney Tony Buzbee to hold the chemical company accountable.
MORE: Deer Park’s emergency alert system failed during deadly PEMEX gas leak; here’s what we know
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Back in October 2024, the toxic and highly flammable gas -- hydrogen sulfide -- leaked at the refinery, claiming two people’s lives and hospitalizing dozens more. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said 35 workers were treated at the site.
The gas leak prompted a shelter-in-place order in Pasadena and Deer Park, but Deer Park’s emergency alert system wasn’t working right and some people didn’t get the message, many others were confused.
On top of that, PEMEX did not alert the community of any potential danger on the CAER website, an online alert system members use for information about anything going on at their plants that might alarm residents.
Buzbee referenced this issue in a lawsuit filed Thursday, noting the company “permitted and otherwise allowed contractors to open a pressurized line containing deadly hydrogen sulfide gas while workers were present in the unit.”
“This should have never happened,” the lawsuit further claimed.
RELATED: ‘Hydrogen sulfide poisoning’: Attorney says resident near PEMEX facility had to seek medical help
The suit goes on to say several workers, including three whom Buzbee is representing, suffered significant injuries while trying to escape the deadly gas cloud.
“They are all lucky to have lived,” it reads. “All three of them suffered significant orthopedic and exposure-related injuries as a result of the deadly gas cloud.”