Jordan, AQABA: Jordan’s prime minister announced Tuesday that he has ordered an investigation into the previous day’s catastrophic bomb in the Red Sea port of Aqaba, which killed at least 13 people.
On Monday, a crane lifting chlorine tanks aboard a ship dropped one of them, resulting in an explosion of deadly yellow smoke. Authorities reported that 250 people were sickened in addition to those dead.
Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh visited the site on Tuesday and stated that the gas concentration in the area had returned to normal, citing civil defense and environmental agencies. He stated that most port activity had resumed, with the exception of the incident’s particular location, which was being cleaned and examined.
Al-Khasawneh stated that “other nationalities” were among the dead but did not elaborate. Many of those in hospitals, he claimed, were being discharged.
State television captured the moment the tank exploded, sending dockworkers fleeing the deadly cloud. A total of 200 persons were hospitalized.
According to the Public Security Directorate, which initially described it as a gas leak, authorities cordoned off the area after removing the injured and dispatched professionals to deal with the problem.
According to Jordan TV, 13 people were killed. According to Al-Mamlaka TV, 199 people are still being treated in hospitals. According to the Public Security Directorate, 251 persons were hurt.
Aqaba is located on the northern tip of the Red Sea, right across the border from the Israeli city of Eilat. Both are popular diving and beach attractions.
According to Eilat’s emergency services, there was little impact on the city, although they were closely monitoring the situation.
Source: Arab News