A worker is dead after being buried beneath three feet of asphalt when a tank carrying 50,000 gallons of searing hot asphalt ruptured and spilled in South Houston , authorities said.

The deadly accident happened around 3:30 p.m. at the Martin Asphalt facility near Christy Place and Texas Street, according to city officials and the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office.

The spill engulfed part of the site, trapping the worker under what officials estimated to be three feet of asphalt. A source told FOX26 the temperature of the tar was about 210 degrees (98C).

Emergency crews, including Houston Fire Department HAZMAT teams and local responders, arrived shortly after the rupture.…