WEATHERFORD, Okla. (AP) — A plume of toxic gas blanketed a small Oklahoma city after a tanker truck sprang a leak in a hotel parking lot, forcing hundreds of nearby residents to evacuate and hospitalizing several dozen people, authorities said Thursday.

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The anhydrous ammonia gas release happened shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday. People in the immediate area were in respiratory distress, city officials in Weatherford said at a news conference. Most patients were taken to a local hospital, but some, including four in critical condition, were taken to other hospitals for further treatment, Police Chief Angelo Orefice said.

At least 500 to 600 people were in a shelter as of Thursday morning, but others were told to shelter in place, authorities said. That order was lifted l

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