Situation worsens surrounding capsized barge in TX City harbor
 The US Coast Guard is involved in the cleanup of a barge that has capsized in the Texas City harbor.
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(11/06/03 - TEXAS CITY, TX) — The situation surrounding a capsized barge is deteriorating.
A barge transporting 235,000 gallons of sulfuric acid in the Texas City harbor capsized Monday, and early Wednesday morning it flipped on its side.
That barge has now become "unstable" and "unsafe" according to the US Coast Guard. A chemical reaction has been occurring since the barge turned over, that chemical reaction has been heating the barge and that is what is concerning the Coast Guard.
"The sulphuric acid in the barge reacts and becomes diluted with the metal in the barge itself," said Commander Paul Thompson with the US Coast Guard. "That reaction progressed to a point where I'm now concerned that pressure built up in the barge could cause an explosion."
A safety zone has been established around the barge. Emergency crews are being kept back about a half mile. Water is being sprayed on the barge to disperse any possible chemical vapor release.
No homes are impacted by the safety zone, but workers from some nearby plants are being evacuated. Schools in Texas City were put on a level 2 alert, which means that they're keeping the kids inside. Students will be dismissed at their normal time.
The barge is operated by Martin Product Sales based out of Kilgore, Texas.
Stay with ABC13 Eyewitness News for the latest on this developing situation.