Anhydrous Ammonia Leak Triggers Evacuations in Weatherford, Oklahoma

Thu Nov 13 2025 22:40:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A tanker truck leak exposes residents to hazardous gas, leading to extensive evacuations and hospitalizations near a local hotel.

In Weatherford, Oklahoma, a tanker truck leaking anhydrous ammonia caused the evacuation of hundreds of residents and sent nearly 30 individuals to hospitals, with some in critical condition. Emergency workers went door-to-door to assist residents, advising them to leave their homes as the gas billowed into the area. Following the incident, authorities are monitoring air quality and the cleanup may take days. Anhydrous ammonia, used in agriculture, poses serious health risks, highlighting the necessity for cautious handling and management.

A leaking tanker truck spewed dangerous gas in a hotel parking lot, forcing hundreds of residents in a small Oklahoma city to evacuate and sending several dozen people to the hospital.

Officials lifted a shelter-in-place order Thursday morning, hours after emergency workers wearing gas masks went door-to-door in Weatherford, waking people up and telling them to leave because of fumes from the anhydrous ammonia leak.

Roughly 30 people were taken to a local hospital, said Police Chief Angelo Orefice. Some people were at other hospitals for further treatment, including four in critical condition, the chief said. Authorities and hospitals didn’t immediately return calls seeking more information about the number of patients or their conditions.

The tanker truck began billowing ammonia gas late Wednesday night, causing those in the immediate area to suffer from respiratory distress, city officials said at a news conference.

At least 500 to 600 people went to a shelter early Thursday while others were ordered to remain inside their homes for several hours. Some nursing homes were evacuated, and schools were closed for the day.

“It was a little crazy to wake up to,” said Krystal Blackwell, who told KWTV-TV that she was evacuated by emergency workers in masks. “I really thought it was a kind of dream.”

The driver of the truck, which was parked behind a Holiday Inn, indicated that a mechanical failure caused the leak. Anhydrous ammonia is often used as a fertilizer and can be deadly in high concentrations.

The cleanup effort is expected to take several days, as authorities are currently monitoring the air quality. The tanker truck is no longer leaking.

Earlier incidents involving anhydrous ammonia, including a previous leak in Mississippi, illustrate the dangers associated with this chemical, underscoring the need for swift and effective emergency responses.

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