USA – Ammonia leak at Oklahoma hotel parking lot sends dozens to hospitals

November 20, 2025

A hazardous ammonia leak from a tanker truck in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn Express in Weatherford, Oklahoma, led to a major emergency response Wednesday 12 November night and sent dozens of people to the hospital.

Incident Overview

The leak was reported around 10 p.m., when a plume of anhydrous ammonia blanketed the hotel parking area, restricting immediate access. Video from the scene showed a dense cloud spreading across the lot. Authorities say the truck’s driver had parked there to stay overnight.

Injuries and Medical Response

The Weatherford Police Department reported that 45 people were hospitalized, including five who were airlifted to facilities in the Oklahoma City area. While most patients are in stable condition, several remain in intensive care.
In addition, three casualty collection points were set up to treat dozens more affected individuals.

First responders were also impacted: 14 officers were exposed to the gas, and five suffered chemical burns to their airways. Many emergency personnel received treatment at the scene. No fatalities have been reported.

Emergency and Agency Response

Multiple agencies—including local fire departments, the Oklahoma Fire Department, and the Oklahoma National Guard’s 63rd Civil Support Team—responded to the incident. A shelter-in-place order was issued for the nearby area but lifted by Thursday morning.

By early Thursday, Weatherford’s fire chief confirmed the truck was no longer leaking gas or liquid.

Cause Under Investigation

Authorities believe the leak was accidental. Investigators are examining whether a mechanical failure, such as a faulty valve or seal, triggered the release. The tanker was carrying 25,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia, a concentrated fertilizer.

Environmental Monitoring

The Environmental Protection Agency arrived around 1 a.m. Thursday to assess air, water, and soil conditions.
Their findings included:

No ammonia detected in nearby residential neighborhoods
Creek ammonia levels within acceptable environmental ranges
Surrounding soil showing a pH of 10, which the EPA says will naturally neutralize

The tanker is owned by Airgas Specialty Products, which said its crews are on site assisting with environmental monitoring.

Cleanup Efforts

To reduce contamination, responders sprayed water to disperse the vapor, then flushed the parking lot and surrounding grass with roughly 2.4 million gallons of water. Because runoff entered a storm drain leading to a local creek, crews also flushed the drainage path and built a berm to prevent additional spread.

Airgas said it will continue supporting authorities until the response and remediation work concludes, adding that its “thoughts are with all those impacted.”

Health Information

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high-level ammonia exposure can irritate the skin, eyes, lungs, and throat—symptoms consistent with what many victims experienced during the incident.

USA