Authorities finally lifted the confinement order this Thursday morning. Part of a city in Oklahoma (USA) was forced to evacuate after a dangerous ammonia spill from a leaking tanker truck. Between 500 and 600 people took refuge in accommodation centers, while 44 people were hospitalized, including some in intensive care.
The incident occurred this Wednesday evening, when a worker staying at the hotel where the truck was parked heard a clicking sound on Wednesday evening, before smelling a very strong smell.
“Purple and frozen lips”
“I was shocked,” said Michael Johnson, who immediately saw a cloud of ammonia coming from the truck as he fled the scene. His companion who was left behind found himself with “purple, frostbitten lips” and “red eyes.” “I told myself we were all going to die,” he continued.
In the end, after the intervention of firefighters with gas masks and first aid, 34 people were treated at local hospitals, and 11 others were transferred to other places in the region, due to lack of space. Some victims remained in intensive care Thursday evening, but most were in stable condition, police said in a statement. Five responding officers suffered chemical burns to their respiratory tract.
(4/4) The murder of the Renault CEO: the bloody epic of the Action Directe group
Crime story tells major criminal cases every week.
Between 500 and 600 people sought refuge in shelters, while others were ordered to stay home for several hours. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced the opening of an investigation. Authorities said a leak in the gasket of the tanker truck carrying 11,340 kilograms of ammonia was the cause of the accident.
