A chemical spill injured dozens of individuals, some critically, and compelled tons of to evacuate from a western Oklahoma metropolis on Wednesday night time, based on native officers. Evacuation orders had been lifted Thursday morning.
The incident occurred round 10 p.m. native time in Weatherford, Oklahoma, the place an 8,500-gallon tanker truck started leaking poisonous ammonia, Weatherford Police Chief Angelo Orefice informed CBS Information on Thursday morning. Responding crews stopped the leak, he mentioned, and the airborne chemical had dissipated to a degree deemed protected for folks to return.
The leaking truck was parked within the lot outdoors of a Vacation Inn Specific resort, mentioned Weatherford Emergency Supervisor Mike Karlin at a information convention streamed by CBS affiliate KWTV. When first responders arrived on the scene, they discovered folks in respiratory misery and exiting the resort, based on the emergency supervisor.
“Because the occasion unfolded, we had a big plume of anhydrous ammonia fuel unfold over a pretty big space,” Karlin mentioned, estimating that between 500 or 600 folks had been displaced and staying in makeshift shelters, after being evacuated from the resort in addition to their private residences. Orefice mentioned the variety of evacuees was barely decrease, between 300 and 500, though he acknowledged that the state of affairs at the moment remained in flux.
A tanker truck that leaked a chemical is seen in entrance of the Vacation Inn Specific in Weatherford, Okla. on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025.
Alonzo Adams / AP
Sandra Payne, a spokesperson for SSM Well being, which oversees Weatherford Regional Hospital, informed CBS Information in an electronic mail Thursday night time that three dozen sufferers had been initially admitted to Weatherford Regional late Wednesday night time to obtain therapy for chemical publicity.
Most had been handled and launched, Payne mentioned, however 10 of these had been despatched to Oklahoma Metropolis for additional care. As of Thursday night time, seven of these 10 sufferers had been being handled at SSM Well being St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma Metropolis. There was no phrase on their circumstances.
An extra 30 sufferers had been additionally handled at Weatherford Regional on Thursday, Payne mentioned, and all 30 have been launched.
Officers had earlier said that roughly 14 officers had been uncovered to anhydrous ammonia, with 5 sustaining chemical burns to their airways. Many first responders had been handled and launched on the scene.
As of Thursday night, no fatalities had been reported.
The Nationwide Transportation Security Board said Thursday night time in a social media submit that it’s investigating the incident.
Southwest Oklahoma State College, the place some evacuees had been staying, introduced that in-person courses can be canceled Thursday due to the ammonia leak.
“First responders on scene have advisable that each one college students in SWOSU on-campus housing shelter in place because of the fumes. College students in residence halls ought to stay indoors, preserve home windows and doorways closed,” the college mentioned in a press release. Weatherford Public Faculties introduced closures all through the district as effectively.
A public security discover issued by the Weatherford Police Division on Thursday morning requested companies to stay closed and residents of sure neighborhoods to shelter in place till additional discover.
Ammonia is a transparent, foul-smelling fuel or liquid that happens naturally however can also be generally utilized in fertilizers and pharmaceutical merchandise, based on the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. Publicity to regular quantities of ammonia don’t hurt people, though greater ranges can harm the eyes, pores and skin, throat and lungs, probably inflicting coughing and burns, the well being company says.