Weatherford, Oklahoma… Hundreds of people were evacuated from an Oklahoma city and others were told to shelter in place after a leaking tanker truck in a hotel parking lot spewed a plume of anhydrous ammonia gas, authorities said Thursday.
The gas release occurred shortly before 10pm on Wednesday. People in the immediate area were experiencing shortness of breath and at least 36 people were taken to a local hospital, city officials said at a news conference.
Authorities said at least 500 to 600 people were in a shelter as of Thursday morning. Many nursing homes were evacuated and schools were closed for the day.
Authorities said air quality was being monitored and the tanker truck was no longer spewing gas.
Anhydrous ammonia is used as a fertilizer to help provide nitrogen to corn and wheat plants. If someone touches it when it is in a gaseous or liquid state, they may get burned. Last week, there was an anhydrous ammonia leak caused by… Explosion in a factory North of Yazoo City, Mississippi, prompted the evacuation of nearby residents.
Weatherford has a population of about 12,000 and is located about 70 miles (113 km) west of Oklahoma City.