A chemical leak at a Houston-area water park left dozens of people with breathing and skin irritation problems on Saturday — including 26 who were hospitalized, one in a critical condition, per the New York Times.
Driving the news: The Harrison County Fire Marshal's Office said in a statement investigators believed the incident at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Splashtown in Spring, Texas, involved hypochlorite solution, a bleach, and 35% sulfuric acid.
Update: 39 people refused transport. 26 people transported to area hospitals. Chemicals believed to be involved hypochlorite solution and 35% sulfuric acid. An investigation into the cause of this incident is ongoing. @Springfdtx
— @hcfmo (@hcfmo) July 17, 2021
- At least 34 people had undergone decontamination procedures, according to the fire marshal's office.
- Lina Hidalgo, Houston's chief elected official, said in a statement, "We've issued a closure order to investigate and ensure the park meets all requirements before reopening again."
What to watch: Neutzler said at a news conference that investigators were "looking into the system" that injected bleach and sulfuric acid to maintain the pH balance and keep pools clean "to see if there was a malfunction or not, but that's still under investigation," per the Times.
