Emergency Evacuations in Weatherford, Oklahoma Following Anhydrous Ammonia Leak

Fri Dec 05 2025 05:33:38 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Residents were evacuated after an anhydrous ammonia leak from a tanker truck caused serious health concerns in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Several people were hospitalized, with critical cases reported.

A significant leak of anhydrous ammonia in Weatherford, Oklahoma, prompted the evacuation of hundreds of residents and hospitalization of dozens, including four in critical condition. The incident occurred late Wednesday when a tanker truck, parked behind a Holiday Inn, malfunctioned. Emergency services responded swiftly, ensuring public safety as air quality monitoring is conducted.

A leaking tanker truck spewed dangerous gas in a hotel parking lot, forcing hundreds of residents in Weatherford, Oklahoma, to evacuate and sending several dozen people to the hospital, according to local authorities on Thursday.

Emergency responders, adorned in gas masks, went door-to-door overnight notifying residents of the anhydrous ammonia leak, leading to a shelter-in-place directive that was lifted early Thursday morning. Weatherford Police Chief Angelo Orefice reported that approximately 30 individuals were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, with four reported as being in critical condition.

This alarming incident commenced late Wednesday night, when the tanker truck started to leak the noxious gas, prompting immediate health concerns for those nearby. A reported 500 to 600 people were evacuated to local shelters, while nursing homes closed and schools were shut down as precautionary measures.

One evacuee, Krystal Blackwell, expressed her alarm at waking to the evacuation, stating, It was a little crazy to wake up to… I really thought it was a kind of dream. Chief Orefice specified that the truck driver had parked behind a Holiday Inn for an overnight stay, and a mechanical failure is suspected as the cause of the leak. The situation highlights the dangers posed by anhydrous ammonia, commonly used as a crop fertilizer, which can cause severe respiratory distress and other health issues if inhaled or contacted.

Anhydrous ammonia leaks have become a troubling trend; just last week, a leak linked to an explosion at a plant near Yazoo City, Mississippi, led to similar evacuations. Authorities are working diligently to monitor air quality in Weatherford, and as of now, the leaking truck has been secured. Cleanup efforts are expected to take several days, necessitating collaboration with environmental specialists.

Industrial gas distributor Airgas commented on the incident, emphasizing the importance of cautious handling of ammonia and urged locals to heed official directives as the cleanup continues.