Jordan: 14 Injured in Ammonia Gas Leak at Aqaba Industrial Complex

Amman, Sept 14 (KUNA) -- Jordanian authorities announced on Monday that 14 people were injured in a limited ammonia gas leak that occurred during routine maintenance work at the industrial complex in the southern city of Aqaba. The Jordan News Agency (Petra) quoted Aqaba Governor Ayman al-Awaisa as saying that the incident resulted in 14 injuries, ranging from minor to moderate. Four of the injured were transported by civil defense personnel to hospitals for treatment, while the remaining cases were treated on-site at the complex’s internal clinics. He added that specialized teams managed to immediately contain the leak, noting that workers at the site promptly closed the main valve and stopped the leak in a timely manner. Al-Awaisa explained that relevant authorities implemented preventive evacuations to safe points within the facility’s perimeter, in accordance with the established emergency plan, in anticipation of any developments, without carrying out a full evacuation of the area. For his part, Dr. Nidal al-Awran, Commissioner of Environmental and Public Safety Affairs at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, said that the authority’s specialized teams, in coordination with relevant entities, handled the incident in accordance with public safety procedures and the approved emergency plan, emphasizing that the situation was fully under control. He added that specialized teams continued to complete safety measures and verify site readiness in preparation for resuming operations in the near future, noting that environmental and atmospheric readings taken in the area showed that the air was safe and that there was no environmental pollution. (End) M.M.J