Three Workers Killed in Scaffolding Collapse at Port Arthur LNG Site in Sabine Pass

SABINE PASS, Texas — A tragic accident early Tuesday morning has left three construction workers dead and two others injured following the collapse of scaffolding at the Port Arthur LNG site in Sabine Pass. The incident occurred just before 2 a.m. at the sprawling industrial facility located off Highway 87, where hundreds of workers are laboring around the clock on the multibillion-dollar liquefied natural gas terminal.

According to preliminary information provided by local authorities and the site’s operators, the workers were performing tasks on a section of elevated scaffolding when the structure unexpectedly gave way. Emergency response teams were dispatched immediately to the scene. Despite efforts to rescue those trapped beneath the debris, three workers were pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were rushed to a nearby hospital with injuries that officials described as “non-life-threatening.”

The identities of the deceased have not yet been released pending notification of their families. Company officials and emergency personnel have not disclosed the exact cause of the collapse, but an investigation has already been launched by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in coordination with local law enforcement and plant management.

“This is a heartbreaking day for our community and for everyone working at the site,” said Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick during a press briefing on Tuesday morning. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the workers who lost their lives and are working closely with the company and investigators to determine exactly what happened.”

The Port Arthur LNG project is one of the largest industrial developments currently underway in the Gulf Coast region, involving multiple international contractors and employing thousands of workers during its construction phase. The facility, which is expected to export millions of tons of liquefied natural gas annually, has been hailed as an economic engine for the region but has also drawn scrutiny over environmental and safety concerns in recent years.

Following the incident, construction operations at the site were immediately halted. Officials with Sempra Infrastructure, the company overseeing the project, issued a statement expressing sorrow over the accident and confirming that a full safety review is underway.

“We are devastated by the tragic loss of life at our Port Arthur LNG site,” the company said in its statement. “Our focus now is on supporting the families of those affected and ensuring that a thorough investigation is conducted. We are cooperating fully with all relevant authorities.”

This is not the first time the Port Arthur LNG project has faced safety challenges. In 2023, the site experienced a smaller incident involving a crane malfunction, though no injuries were reported at that time. Tuesday’s accident, however, is the most serious workplace tragedy to date in the course of the facility’s construction.

Worker advocacy groups have already begun calling for increased oversight and transparency. “There needs to be a full accounting of how such a catastrophic failure was allowed to occur,” said Maria Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the Texas Construction Safety Coalition. “Construction workers risk their lives every day to build the infrastructure of our future. The least we owe them is a safe working environment.”

The two injured workers remain hospitalized but are expected to recover, according to hospital officials. OSHA has indicated that their investigation may take weeks, possibly months, and may include structural engineers and forensic experts to determine whether design flaws, human error, or other factors contributed to the scaffolding collapse.

As of Tuesday afternoon, grief counselors and chaplains have been brought on-site to support coworkers and supervisors impacted by the loss. A memorial vigil is reportedly being planned by local unions and community members later this week to honor the lives of the workers lost in the line of duty.

The Port Arthur LNG site remains under lockdown, with no timetable yet given for the resumption of construction activities.

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