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An ammonia gas leak in Oklahoma forced hundreds of people to evacuate, while at least 36 were hospitalized, officials said.
The gas release involving a tanker truck happened in Weatherford, a city of about 12,000 residents located around 70 miles west of Oklahoma City.
“About 10 p.m. last night, we had a tanker truck that developed a leak. It pulled into a hotel parking lot here in Weatherford. The leak got very significant, caused the evacuation of the hotel, multiple residences, and all of that,” Mike Karlin, the emergency manager and director of public safety for the city of Weatherford, told Fox News Digital on Thursday.
“We had 36 victims that were transported to the local hospital. Eleven of those 36 were then transferred on to metro-area hospitals in Oklahoma City,” he added.
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“Currently we are just trying to dissipate the remaining part of the anhydrous ammonia and hoping to get residents out of the shelter and back to their homes and businesses just as quickly as we can,” Karlin also said.
At least 500 to 600 people were in a shelter as of Thursday morning, according to authorities.
“Due to an accidental chemical release, the Weatherford Emergency Department is requesting all residents East of Washington St, South of Davis Ave, North of Main St to shelter in place until further notice. Residents in this area are encouraged to turn off their AC/Heating systems to prevent the chemicals from entering their home,” the Weatherford Police Department said in a statement Thursday.
“Businesses in this area should remain closed. Weatherford Public Schools has closed down all campuses today,” the department added.
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Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford also announced that all in-person classes were canceled Thursday as a result of the “anhydrous ammonia leak.”
“First responders on scene have recommended that all students in SWOSU on-campus housing shelter in place due to the fumes,” the university said.
Anhydrous ammonia is used as a fertilizer to help provide nitrogen for corn and wheat plants, according to The Associated Press. If a person touches it when it is in gas or liquid form, they could be burned.
Authorities said the air quality was being monitored and that the tanker truck was no longer spewing gas, but that a lack of wind was slowing efforts to dissipate it. A number of agencies were on hand to assist, including hazmat crews and an Oklahoma National Guard unit that supports first responders during emergencies.
Last week, an anhydrous ammonia leak caused by an explosion at a plant north of Yazoo City, Mississippi, prompted evacuations for nearby residents.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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