Chlorine gas leak kills 12, injures 251 at Jordan port

June 27 (Reuters) – At the least 12 folks died and 251 have been injured in a chlorine gasoline leak from a storage tank at Jordan’s Aqaba port, officers and state media reported on Monday.

The leak got here after a tank crammed with 25 tonnes of chlorine gasoline being exported to Djibouti fell whereas being transported, officers mentioned.

A video posted on state tv’s Twitter web page confirmed a storage tank falling from a winch and slamming into the deck of a ship, adopted by yellow-coloured gasoline rising into the air as folks ran away.

Well being ministry officers mentioned they anticipated solely a handful of individuals to stay hospitalised by Tuesday.

Chlorine is a broadly used disinfectant and water purification agent, but when inhaled, the gasoline turns to hydrochloric acid, which might result in inner burning and drowning by a reactionary launch of water within the lungs.

Jordan’s Aqaba grain silos halted work to permit inspection of its grains and for any indicators of contamination, however maritime site visitors at Aqaba ports continues, officers mentioned.

There have been no vessels unloading any grains cargo on the time of the incident, they added.

Aqaba port on the north finish of the Purple Sea has lengthy been a significant transit route for Iraqi imports and exports.

Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh arrived at Aqaba and headed to a hospital the place among the injured have been being handled, state TV reported.

Al-Khasawneh additionally shaped an investigation staff into the incident chaired by the inside minister, state TV cited the data minister as saying.

Reporting by Moataz Mohamed, Omar Fahmy, Nayera Abdallah and Suleiman al-Khalidi; Enhancing by Deepa Babington, Mark Porter and Lisa Shumaker

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Ideas.