Scaffolding Collapse at Port Arthur LNG Site Claims Three Lives,

Early Tuesday morning, tragedy struck the Port Arthur LNG construction site in Jefferson County as a scaffolding collapsed, resulting in three fatalities and two injuries, as reported by KHOU and confirmed by Capt. Crystal Holmes of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. Details suggest that the incident occurred just before 2 a.m. off Highway 87, amid the intense 24-hour construction activity on the industrial facility.

The collapse caused four workers to fall, as they were on the platform at the time it gave way leading to three falling all the way to the ground, two were pronounced dead at the scene and the third, a 41-year-old Houston man, succumbed to cardiac arrest at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont, as per Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Sr. while the fourth is currently in stable condition at a nearby hospital, this, according to Andre Ruby, of City Ambulance. The exact cause of the scaffold malfunction has not been determined, nor is it known whether appropriate safety gear was in use, leaving the community to await the findings of a thorough investigation, according to KHOU.

With the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office taking the lead on the case, Capt. Holmes assured that the investigation will be "slow and methodical," with the enforcement agency working in cooperation with Bechtel, the site's contractor, to ascertain the cause of this incident. In her remarks to KHOU, Holmes expressed the profound impact the accident has had: "It's a tragedy for the families and for those involved, and not just the victims, but for employees that were out here and family that were out here."

Meanwhile, Sempra Infrastructure released a statement following the accident, obtained by News4SanAntonio, extending their condolences to the families of the deceased and noting that Bechtel has suspended work at the site pending further investigation. This incident strikes a somber note amidst the ambitious Port Arthur LNG project, a $13 billion investment in new energy infrastructure set to stimulate local and national economies by creating jobs, supporting businesses, and reinforcing the natural gas sector's global presence, as described by the Port Arthur LNG website.

First responders, including the Port Arthur Fire Department and EMS, arrived early to the scene, with Sheriff Zena Stephens expected to make a visit later in the day. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has also been notified and is involved in the ongoing efforts to determine the root cause of the accident. The area where the collapse occurred has been shut down for the duration of the investigation. As updates become available on this developing story, more information will be provided to the public, as per KHOU.