Acid Leak Kills Two Chemical Plant Workers, Injures Dozens, in Texas

Five tons of acetic acid leaked at a Texas plant Tuesday, leaving two people dead and 30 more injured, officials say.

The leak at LyondellBasell in La Porte was reported at 7:35 p.m. Tuesday and all individuals inside the facility at the time are accounted for, according to site manager Stephen Goff.

Out of the 30 people who were injured, one person suffered serious burns and the others had respiratory complications, Goff said in a news briefing streamed by KTRK.

LyondellBasell describes itself on its website as ‘one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world.’ Its facility in La Porte is about 25 miles east of Houston.

The leak occurred in a unit that had been partially shut down due to planned maintenance, according to the site manager.