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On Monday, a cloud of poisonous gas killed at least 13 and injured hundreds at a Red Sea port in Jordan.

State-owned al-Mamlaka TVA released a video from a nearby CCTV camera showing the container being transported by a crane before it dropped, unleashing a cloud of yellow, gaseous material onto a ship and inside the port. The video showed people running away after the container dropped.

Jordan’s National Center for Security and Crisis Management (NCSCM) said in a statement:

“At 4:15 p.m. on Monday afternoon, a chlorine gas leak occurred in the port of Aqaba due to the fall and explosion of a tank containing this substance.”

The accident resulted in the deaths of 13 people and injured at least 250 people, according to the state-owned media.

According to The National News, General Security Directorate spokesman, Amer Al Sartawi, said the crane dropped the tank during transportation, releasing the chlorine gas.

The deadly chlorine gas explosion forced shipping to stop in Aqaba — Jordan’s only port — and authorities evacuated nearby beaches, The National News reported.

Hours after the incident, the prime minister of Jordan and other government officials inspected the accident site and declared there was no longer a threat to public health.

“The scenario in Aqaba is now below control,” Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh informed the state-owned media outlet.

The Daily Caller dropped some details:

Aqaba Gov. Mohammad Al Radayaa said the port’s explosion “has been controlled,” but the Aqaba Health Department head Jamal Obeidat is still recommending people take shelter inside, according to the outlet. “We advise citizens in Aqaba to stay indoors and close the windows,” Obeidat said. “This gas is critical.”

Officials said the gas tanker was holding 25 tonnes (27.56 tons) of chlorine gas, reported The National News.

Information Minister Faisal Al Shboul said the government scrambled to set up a field hospital and medical equipment. The government also sent at least one plane to the city to complete medical evacuations, the National News reported.

In the latest update on Tuesday, around 123 people still remained withinside the health facility.

Among the injured, 123 are receiving treatment in hospitals. Some 45 of them are personnel from the Public Security Directorate, Civil Defense, and Gendarmerie Cadres First Responders, according to the country’s Public Security Directorate.
Nearby hospitals treating the injured reached full capacity, according to Jordanian state TV, citing the head of the Aqaba Health Directorate, Jamal Obeidat.

Sources: DailyCaller, TheNationalNews

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