Up to 14 people have died and more than 250 injured following a container loading accident at the general cargo terminal in the port of Aqaba, in Jordan.
Up to 14 people have died and more than 250 injured following a container loading accident at the general cargo terminal in the port of Aqaba, in Jordan.
The ship thought to be the 9,400dwt Forest 6 general cargo vessel, was loading a container of 25-30 tonnes of chlorine from a quay crane at around 4:18pm local time, 27 June, when the wires snapped, dropping the container onto the deck, which then exploded spreading toxic gas around the port and its vicinity.
Local beaches were closed and civil defence forces and medical teams were seen arriving at the scene of the accident wearing gas masks.
Reuters reported that the Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh arrived at Aqaba and visited some of the injured in hospital.
Mr Al-Khasawneh “also formed an investigation team into the incident chaired by the interior minister,” said Reuters.
Chlorine is a yellow green gas used as a disinfectant and in industrial processes and can react with water. It is highly toxic and was used during World War One as a weapon by both sides.
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