Attempted fertilizer theft releases dangerous amonia gas in Lisbon, North Dakota

[Ian David]

GLIDE Number: CH-20070416-10890-USA
Date / time: 16/04/2007 18:09:37
Event: Chemical Accident
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: State of North Dakota
City: Lisbon
Number of Deads: None or unknow
Number of Injured: None or unknow
Damage level: Minor

Description:
Thieves likely trying to steal liquid fertilizer to make methamphetamine broke a storage tank valve, releasing a dangerous plume of ammonia gas, police said. The cloud hovered for several hours Sunday before dissipating. No arrests had been made, police said.

The leak of about 300 gallons of anhydrous ammonia was reported early Sunday by a man driving to work who saw the white plume of gas hugging the ground, Police Chief Jeannette Persons said. An alert was broadcast on local radio telling residents of the southeastern North Dakota town to seal their doors and windows to prevent exposure to the gas.

"It was a big white cloud," Persons said. "It burns your throat, your lungs, your eyes." A newspaper carrier was treated at a hospital and released, apparently with no major health problems, Persons said. No other injuries were reported. Someone was trying to steal the liquid fertilizer from a tank when the valve broke, Persons said. Anhydrous ammonia is used in the production of the illegal drug methamphetamine. The town has about 2,300 residents.

More:
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?lang=eng&cid=10890

[MnFats]

1. anhydrous ammonia is also a component in .... bomb-making...

If memory serves, the bomb used in Oklahoma City was an anhydrous ammonia bomb....