Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has expressed condolences following the explosion at the Port of Aqaba, Jordan.
A storage tank containing 25 tonnes of the gas fell and cracked open while it was being loaded onto a ship at the Aqaba port. The CCTV footage showed how the container slipped from a winch and crashed onto the deck of the cargo vessel, sparking panic among the workers. At least 13 people had been killed and more than 260 people were injured.
The foreign minister extended condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for a speedy recovery for those undergoing treatment. Most were being treated for the effects of breathing chlorine gas, a common cleaning agent that also has a range of other industrial uses and can be employed as a chemical weapons agent. Chlorine has a range of industrial uses although it attacks the respiratory system, skin, and eyes.