Worker Killed After Asphalt Tank Ruptures at South Houston Facility

A worker was killed Wednesday afternoon after a storage tank ruptured at the Martin Asphalt facility in South Houston, releasing an estimated 50,000 gallons of liquid asphalt.

The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. when a large storage tank containing liquid asphalt broke apart. Residents reported hearing a loud explosion, followed by a plume of black smoke. Some reported seeing asphalt raining down, with one witness describing how her vehicle became stuck in asphalt that had spilled from the ruptured tank. Aerial footage shows the tank completely collapsed in on itself with large amounts of asphalt covering the facility, nearby structures, and spilling out onto adjacent roadways.

Emergency crews from the City of South Houston, the Houston Fire Department, and the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office responded to the scene where they found that one person was missing. Hazmat teams were deployed to manage the large-scale spill, and recovery operations extended into the evening before the worker's body was located and extracted.

According to early reports, the worker was buried under about three feet of asphalt, which sources reported had reached temperatures of roughly 210 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of the spill.

Officials conducted air monitoring in the surrounding area and reported no immediate danger to the community. Several roads near the facility were temporarily closed during the response, and clean-up operations are still underway.

The cause of the tank failure is still under investigation.

Martin Asphalt, a subsidiary of Martin Midstream Partners LP that produces asphalt for paving and roofing applications, confirmed the worker's death. In a statement, the company said, “Our deepest sympathies are with the employee’s family during this difficult time. We are focused on supporting those affected, including providing appropriate resources to our workforce.”

As of Wednesday evening, authorities had not released the identity of the victim or confirmed whether the individual was a direct employee of the company or a contractor.

At Arnold & Itkin, our thoughts are with the victim and their family, as well as all the workers and community members affected by this tragedy.