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A fire at a Marathon refinery in Texas City on Monday claimed the life of one worker, the Ohio-based petroleum refining, marketing and transportation company said, per Houston media reports.
"We are deeply saddened to report that a Marathon employee has passed away as a result of the fire today at Marathon Petroleum's Galveston Bay refinery," company officials said in a statement, Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported. “We extend our deepest sympathies to our employee's family, friends and co-workers, and our thoughts are with them as we all mourn his passing.
“The safety of our workers and the community is our top priority, and a full investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the incident," the statement added.
The Twitter account for the City of Texas City, which is about 42 miles south of Houston, first notified residents of the blaze at 10:05 a.m.
“No shelter in place is needed, and there is no threat to the community,” the tweet read at the time. “Our emergency responders are closely monitoring the situation, including monitoring the air quality.”
Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported that Marathon has yet to determine the exact cause of the fire, which broke out at the facility at 2938 5th Ave S.
Citing Texas City officials, KPRC reported that the fire was under control as of noon.
The station reported that the incident occurred after something similar earlier this month at the Shell Deer Park Chemical Plant.
Per KPRC, the blaze broke out on May 6, and though it was initially extinguished, it reignited the next day.
The identity of the lone worker who died in the Marathon fire remains unknown as of press time until his next of kin are notified.
Reuters reported that the refinery was also where a contract worker in March perished after receiving an electrical shock.