Local News
Gas Leak at Texas Middle School Sickens at Least 179
A carbon monoxide leak at a middle school in the Beaumont area has sickened at least 179 students and faculty members, according to reports coming from area news networks.
Emergency personnel in the Gulf Coast region responded to calls after a student lost consciousness, and several people complained of nausea and headaches. Officials told KTRK-TV Houston that their efforts helped more than 800 students and faculty evacuate from the incident.
Baptist Beaumont Hospital, Christus Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth Hospital and Victory Medical Center are said to be treating at least 109 victims for exposure to toxic chemicals. Most of the injuries caused by the gas leak are not thought to be serious.
The accident is somewhat of an anomaly, but not unprecedented.
From 1994 through 2013, leaked gas catastrophes caused 745 serious incidents along with 278 fatalities and 1059 injuries, according to reports published by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Classes were cancelled in Beaumont through the end of the week.
“Beaumont ISD will take as much time as needed to ensure the building is safe for students and staff to return. Parents will be notified through all forms of media and the district’s phone messaging system regarding Monday’s school schedule,” school officials said in a statement published by the Associated Press.
The bad news for Beaumont ISD comes on the heels of a Dec. 28 report published by the FBI, indicating that a former BISD Assistant Superintendent was found guilty of stealing federal funds and conspiring to release false statements concerning standardized test scores.
