At Least Two Hospitalized After Roughly 1 Million Gallons Of Sulfuric Acid Leak From Tank In Channelview, Texas — Officials Warn 'The Incident Is Not Over'

Approximately 1 million gallons of sulfuric acid leaked from a large storage tank at a BWC Terminals facility in Channelview, Texas, shortly before 2 a.m. on Dec. 27, authorities said. The chemical flowed into the nearby ship channel after a catwalk collapsed and ruptured a supply line attached to the tank.

Injuries, Response And Containment

Two people were transported to a local hospital following the release; both were later released, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said. Another 44 people were evaluated on site but did not require hospital treatment. Emergency responders established a unified command to monitor and contain the spill.

Air And Water Monitoring Underway

Officials have been monitoring air quality since the leak was discovered. So far, tests have remained within normal ranges. Hidalgo cautioned, however, that the primary concern is the spill's impact on waterways and aquatic life because the acid entered the ship channel, a man-made waterway that connects to other bodies of water.

"Thankfully, there has not been an impact [to air quality]. The impact is limited," Hidalgo said. "The incident is not over yet … but it has been ameliorated significantly."

Authorities stressed that parts of the affected area remain unsafe for direct entry, preventing immediate assessment of environmental damage. Responders said they will continue sampling and surveillance of both air and water until containment and cleanup are complete.

GettyPolice tape (stock image)

Investigation And Agency Involvement

Investigators from the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency were on site to assess the situation. Local pollution-control authorities will inspect the facility once it is safe to determine the cause, evaluate compliance with safety rules and decide whether further action is required.

A BWC Terminals spokesperson told KPRC 2 News that most of the acid was retained within a designated contamination area at the facility, but confirmed an unspecified amount leaked into the adjacent waterway. Channelview Fire Department incident commander Chad Mikush noted that officials considered evacuations but, after extensive monitoring, determined they were not necessary.

"That was highly considered. We did extensive monitoring, and we decided as a unified command that wasn’t necessary … We did our testing, and everything was clear," Mikush said at a Dec. 27 news briefing.

Local and federal teams remain on scene conducting monitoring, containment and investigative work. Authorities urged residents to avoid the affected waterways and to follow guidance from local public safety officials while response operations continue.

Note: PEOPLE and other outlets reported attempts to reach BWC Terminals and the Channelview Fire Department for comment on Dec. 28; no immediate responses were recorded in those reports.