An industrial accident in South Houston left one worker dead on Wednesday after a tank at an asphalt facility ruptured and released tens of thousands of gallons of hot black tar, authorities said. Per KHOU, the failure occurred around 3:30pm at the Martin Asphalt facility on Christy Place, sending an estimated 50,000 gallons of the substance across the site and onto nearby roads. Officials said the employee was found trapped under roughly 3 feet of asphalt; the body was later recovered, but the person hasn't yet been publicly IDed. The tar, which officials note is often used as a base layer before asphalt is laid down, was reported to be around 210 degrees, FOX 26 reports.
Cleanup is expected to last several days and could snarl traffic in spots as heavy equipment, including a crane, is brought in to move the damaged tank. Air monitoring has reportedly shown no threat to nearby residents, though officials warned the smell of tar may linger. Neighbors reported hearing a loud boom around the time the tank gave way, and also of seeing black smoke and debris; one resident said asphalt fell around nearby buildings and stranded her car. Martin Asphalt, part of Martin Resource Management, confirmed the worker's death and expressed condolences, while noting it has begun an internal review. The Pasadena Fire Marshal's Office is leading the investigation into what caused the tank rupture, per the Guardian.
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