Four workers die after two-hour leak at Texas industrial plant that caused hazardous chemical to spread 40 miles

Four workers have been killed and one injured during a hazardous chemical leak at a Texas industrial plant.

The chemical, methyl mercaptan, began leaking around 4am on Saturday morning in a unit at the DuPont plant in La Porte, about 20 miles east of Houston. Plant officials said the release was contained by 6am.

Several employees had responded to the leak when they were exposed to the chemical, plant manager Randall Clements said in a statement.

Tragic: Four workers have been killed and one injured following the leak of a hazardous chemical at a DuPont plant in La Porte, 20 miles east of Houston, Texas