5 hours ago
A chlorine tank exploded in the port of Aqaba, causing material losses and loss of life
The Public Prosecution Office in Jordan announced that it had seized the details and evidence of the chlorine tank explosion incident in the port of Aqaba.
Judge Walid Kanakreh, Secretary-General of the Judicial Council and its media spokesperson, said that “the Public Prosecution conducted a sensory examination on the site of the accident and elected a technical committee with expertise and competence to assist in the procedures for verifying the correctness of the loading and unloading procedures and container handling work that was underway at the site, and the nature of work.” equipment and cranes used therein.
On Sunday, the Jordanian government will hold a press conference to reveal the results of the investigation into the case of the fall of a toxic chlorine gas tank in a port in the city of Aqaba, which led to deaths and injuries.
The investigation included an examination of the load wires, their durability of heavy weights and sizes, and the extent and level of adherence to public safety procedures and standards in dealing with various materials, including hazardous materials, according to the Jordanian Public Prosecution.
Thirteen people, including Jordanians, were killed and 260 injured as a result of the fall and explosion of a tank containing toxic chlorine.
Chlorine, a chemical used in industry and household cleaning products, is a yellow-green gas at normal temperature and pressure, but is usually compressed and refrigerated for storage and shipping.
The investigation committee is expected to present its final report and results of the investigation later this week.
Kanakrieh indicated that three Public Prosecution officials at the Aqaba Court of First Instance heard the testimonies of 120 of the injured and 7 of the families of the deceased, and they are continuing their procedures to listen to the remaining witnesses and await the receipt of the hearing records of some other witnesses, and then interrogate the workers at the site.
Last Monday, the port of Aqaba witnessed a leakage of toxic gas from a container that fell from a ship in the port, and the images of the surveillance cameras showed the fall of a silver tank suspended from a crane, on the deck of a ship, on Monday. The deputy director of the port of Aqaba told the local channel Al-Mamlaka that an “iron rope” carrying the tanker “broke” while it was being loaded.
When chlorine is inhaled, ingested, or in contact with the skin, it reacts with water to produce acids that destroy cells in the body. Inhaling high levels of chlorine causes fluid to build up in the lungs.