Most of the acid remained inside a containment berm; officials say an unknown amount reached nearby water at Jacintoport.
CHANNELVIEW, TX — A catwalk collapse early Saturday ruptured a line tied to a large sulfuric acid tank at the BWC Terminals site along Jacintoport Boulevard, releasing about 1 million gallons. Two people were hospitalized and more than 40 others were evaluated as hazmat crews contained the leak and began environmental monitoring near the Houston Ship Channel.
Authorities said the incident began just after 2 a.m. on Dec. 27 at the bulk liquid terminal east of Houston. The company reported most of the acid flowed into the facility’s containment area, designed to hold spills. Harris County officials confirmed some product entered a nearby slip connected to the ship channel. Air monitoring around neighborhoods and roadways showed readings that did not trigger shelter or evacuation orders, according to county leaders. The U.S. Coast Guard, the Environmental Protection Agency and local pollution control teams are assessing water quality and potential impacts while the county fire marshal investigates how the structure failed.
Responders with the Channelview Fire District first arrived around 2:10 a.m. to reports of a chemical leak and visible damage to an overhead walkway. Crews located a ruptured six-inch line associated with a storage tank carrying about 1 million gallons of sulfuric acid. The district requested additional hazmat resources within 30 minutes. By shortly after 6 a.m., officials said the release was stopped at the source. The Houston Ship Channel remained open to vessel traffic while booms and other protective measures were placed at the slip by spill response contractors. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said the situation had “improved significantly,” adding that monitoring supported the decision against issuing a shelter-in-place order.
Officials said two workers from a business downwind reported breathing problems and were taken to a hospital for evaluation; both were later released. Harris County and company medics examined about 44 others at the scene, including personnel on two ships docked nearby, with no additional hospitalizations reported. BWC Terminals said containment walls captured the majority of the liquid and that an unknown volume reached the water. As of Sunday, officials reported no confirmed fish kills or wildlife impacts, though investigators cautioned that lab results from water sampling were still pending. Deputies and fire officials closed portions of nearby roads to allow emergency vehicles access, while keeping public access away from the industrial area.
Records show the terminal stores bulk chemicals, including spent sulfuric acid used in industrial processes. Sulfuric acid can cause burns on contact and poses risks to aquatic life when released into waterways. The Jacintoport area borders the busy Houston Ship Channel, a vital lane for petrochemical and cargo traffic. The scale of the release prompted a multiagency response similar to prior incidents in the region, though officials emphasized that the built-in containment berms performed as designed. Previous chemical events along the corridor have led to temporary closures or air quality alerts; none were ordered in this case based on field readings reported by county and federal teams.
Investigators with the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office are reviewing structural failure at the catwalk and the rupture path in the line, along with control room logs, inspection records and maintenance history. The Coast Guard and the EPA are leading the water-side assessment, including surface sampling at the Jacintoport slip and downstream locations. Crews installed floating barriers to corral any material on the surface and began neutralization work inside the bermed area of the facility. Officials said the volume that entered the water remains unknown. Additional agency updates are expected as lab analyses return this week and as inspectors complete interviews with employees and contractors.
Neighbors and workers described a strong chemical odor early Saturday near the terminal and along industrial roadways. “We saw lights and heard sirens before sunrise, and deputies told us to stay clear of the area,” said Michael Torres, who works at a nearby warehouse. From the air, news video showed a damaged section of catwalk above the tank farm as fire crews and contractors moved between staging areas. County leaders said readings will continue at fixed and mobile monitors around Jacintoport and nearby neighborhoods while cleanup teams remove pooled liquid from the containment berm and haul it for treatment.
Officials said the leak is secured and monitoring continues. Agencies plan to release additional sampling results when available this week. Investigators have not set a timeline for completing the structural review of the catwalk and piping. Authorities said they will announce the next formal briefing if further action is required.
Author note: Last updated Monday, December 29, 2025.