Crane drops cylinder of chlorine gas at Jordan port killing 12, injuring 251

According to officials and state media, minimum 12 people have died and 251 have been injured as a result of a chlorine gas leak at the Jordanian port of Aqaba.

Officials said the leak came when a tank filled with 25 tonnes of chlorine gas fell during its transportation procedure to Djibouti.

The footage that was telecasted on state TV showed that a huge cylinder plummeted from a crane onto a ship which was moored. This then caused a violent and savage release of Chlorine, a yellow gas.


The workers who were present on the port could be seen running to save their lives as a truck rolled down the harborside after the blast. People living in the vicinity were warned to stay in their homes, keep their windows closed while certain areas were evacuated.

According to a government spokesperson, the government has formed a team which is headed by the interior minister to investigate the accident and take the necessary measures.

Bishr Khasawneh, the Prime Minister, and along with him, the interior minister, Mazen al-Faraya, travelled to the site where this accident took place.

The hazardous substances who work with the civil defense were dealing with this unfortunate incident. Aqaba's southern beach which is very near to this area was also evacuated following this incident.

Those injured in this accident were taken to two state hospitals: one of them, a private facility and another, a field hospital.

Jamal Obeidat, The Aqaba health director remarked that the hospitals in the area were now full in capacity and would be unable to take up more patients. He added that the injured people’s condition was medium to critical.

He called on residents of Aqaba to “stay in their homes and shut all windows as a precaution”, saying the chemical substance was very dangerous but not specifying what it was.