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, authorities said Thursday.
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 tanker truck began billowing ammonia gas late Wednesday night, resulting in respiratory distress for those in the immediate area. At least 500 to 600 people went to a shelter early Thursday while others were ordered to stay inside their homes.
“It was a little crazy to wake up to,” said Krystal Blackwell, a resident who was evacuated by emergency workers in masks.
The driver of the truck had parked behind a Holiday Inn to rest. Investigations suggest a mechanical failure was the cause of the incident.
Anhydrous ammonia, typically used in agriculture, is colorless and has a strong, suffocating odor, capable of causing serious health issues.
Cleanup efforts in Weatherford, a city of about 12,000 people, may take several days, with officials continuing to monitor air quality and work alongside various agencies, including hazmat teams.
As a precaution, Airgas, a distributor of industrial gas, urged local residents to follow guidance from authorities.
