Oklahoma ammonia gas leak prompts hundreds of evacuations as at least 36 people hospitalized

An ammonia state leak successful Oklahoma forced hundreds of radical to evacuate, portion astatine slightest 36 were hospitalized, officials said.

The state merchandise involving a tanker motortruck happened successful Weatherford, a metropolis of astir 12,000 residents located astir 70 miles westbound of Oklahoma City.

"About 10 p.m. past night, we had a tanker motortruck that developed a leak. It pulled into a edifice parking batch present successful Weatherford. The leak got precise significant, caused the evacuation of the hotel, aggregate residences, and each of that," Mike Karlin, the exigency manager and manager of nationalist information for the metropolis of Weatherford, told Fox News Digital connected Thursday.

"We had 36 victims that were transported to the section hospital. Eleven of those 36 were past transferred connected to metro-area hospitals successful Oklahoma City," helium added.

EXPLOSION AT MISSISSIPPI CHEMICAL PLANT PROMPTS EVACUATIONS AMID AMMONIA LEAK

Beds are seen acceptable up astatine a tract for evacuees connected Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, successful Weatherford, Okla. (KOKH)

"Currently we are conscionable trying to dissipate the remaining portion of the anhydrous ammonia and hoping to get residents retired of the structure and backmost to their homes and businesses conscionable arsenic rapidly arsenic we can," Karlin besides said.

At slightest 500 to 600 radical were successful a structure arsenic of Thursday morning, according to authorities.

"Air prime has reached harmless levels and we are releasing the structure successful spot bid for the area," the Weatherford Police Department aboriginal said successful a statement. "Residents tin instrumentality location astatine this time. Residents are encouraged to aerial retired their residences by opening doors and windows. If you were exposed to immoderate chemicals region your covering and thoroughly lavation your assemblage with soap and water. If you are feeling ill, telephone 911 immediately. 

Police said earlier successful the time that, "Weatherford Public Schools has closed down each campuses today." 

Weatherford Police Chief Angelo Orefice said astatine a property league Thursday it remains unclear however the leak happened, but investigators fishy it mightiness person occurred owed to a mechanical nonaccomplishment connected a valve oregon a faulty seal connected the truck. 

EXPLOSION CAUGHT ON CAMERA ROCKS BEACH TOWN AFTER HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER HITS GAS LINE, FIREFIGHTERS INJURED

Evacuees are seen connected Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, connected the field of Southwestern Oklahoma State University successful Weatherford, Okla. (KOKH)

Southwestern Oklahoma State University successful Weatherford besides announced that each in-person classes were canceled Thursday arsenic a effect of the "anhydrous ammonia leak."

"First responders connected country person recommended that each students successful SWOSU on-campus lodging structure successful spot owed to the fumes," the assemblage said.

Anhydrous ammonia is utilized arsenic a fertilizer to assistance supply nitrogen for maize and wheat plants, according to The Associated Press. If a idiosyncratic touches it erstwhile it is successful state oregon liquid form, they could beryllium burned.

Authorities said the aerial prime was being monitored and that the tanker motortruck was nary longer spewing gas, but that a deficiency of upwind was slowing efforts to dissipate it. A fig of agencies were connected manus to assist, including hazmat crews and an Oklahoma National Guard portion that supports archetypal responders during emergencies.

An detonation astatine a chemic works adjacent Yazoo City, Miss., past Wednesday resulted successful an ammonia leak.  (WDBD-WLBT)

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Last week, an anhydrous ammonia leak caused by an detonation astatine a works northbound of Yazoo City, Mississippi, prompted evacuations for adjacent residents.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.