Executive Summary
- A tanker truck leaked anhydrous ammonia gas in Weatherford, Oklahoma, late Wednesday, leading to a major hazmat incident.
- At least 36 people were hospitalized due to respiratory distress, and between 500 and 600 residents were evacuated.
- The incident forced the closure of schools, a university, and businesses, with a shelter-in-place order issued for a portion of the city.
- Emergency crews, including the National Guard, are on the scene monitoring air quality as low winds slow the gas dissipation.
Hundreds of people were evacuated and at least 36 were hospitalized in Weatherford, Oklahoma, after a tanker truck began leaking anhydrous ammonia gas in a hotel parking lot late Wednesday night, city officials confirmed. The incident prompted a large-scale emergency response and widespread disruption in the city.
The gas release was reported shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday, causing respiratory distress for individuals in the immediate vicinity. According to authorities, 36 people were transported to a local hospital, with 11 of them later transferred to other facilities for further treatment. All law enforcement officers who first responded to the scene were also exposed and are being medically evaluated.
Officials stated that between 500 and 600 residents were moved to a temporary shelter. The leak forced the closure of local schools, several nursing homes were evacuated, and Southwestern Oklahoma State University canceled in-person classes. A shelter-in-place order was issued for a designated area of the city, and businesses within that zone were advised to remain closed.
Emergency crews, including hazmat teams and an Oklahoma National Guard unit, have been monitoring air quality. While the tanker is no longer actively leaking, officials noted that a lack of wind was slowing the dissipation of the gas plume. The affected area around the hotel remains closed to traffic.
Anhydrous ammonia is a chemical compound commonly used as an agricultural fertilizer which can cause severe burns upon contact in its gas or liquid form. Weatherford is a city of approximately 12,000 residents located about 70 miles west of Oklahoma City.