Houston-Area Chemical Leak: 2 Dead, Dozens Injured in Latest Government-Regulated Fiasco

In true Deep State fashion, another industrial "accident" has claimed lives and left dozens injured. This time, a chemical leak at a PEMEX facility in Deer Park, Texas, caused chaos and triggered a shelter-in-place order for thousands of residents. Buckle up, folks, it's time to dive into this regulatory mess.

The Lowdown

On Thursday, a hydrogen sulfide leak—yes, the gas that smells like rotten eggs—at the PEMEX refinery sent two souls to meet their maker and landed 35 others in the hospital. The incident unfolded at around 4:20 p.m., but local law enforcement didn't get the memo until over an hour later. You can't make this stuff up.

The cities of Deer Park and Pasadena went into lockdown mode at 7 p.m., only to get the all-clear at 9:30 p.m. Talk about a bureaucratic snafu.

The Official Spin

Pemex Deer Park chalked it up to a "gas release" at 4:40 p.m., according to ABC News. The cause of the leak is still a mystery, and the extent of the injuries remains hush-hush. USA TODAY is on the case, but don't hold your breath.

The Culprit: Hydrogen Sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide is not just smelly; it's downright deadly. This toxic and flammable gas is a byproduct of natural processes and frequently used in refineries. You know, the places where the government loves to impose mountains of paperwork instead of common sense.

The Investigation: Still Ongoing

As of Friday morning, the Harris County Sheriff's Office is "investigating." Shocking, right? They lifted the shelter-in-place order after getting the all-clear from Harris County Pollution Control, Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office Hazardous Materials Response Team, and CTEH. Talk about a bureaucratic alphabet soup.

The Scene of the Crime

Find the PEMEX facility at 5900 Highway 225 in Deer Park. You'll smell it before you see it.

— USA TODAY contributed to this report.