At least 10 killed by gas leak in Jordan port city of Aqaba

A poisonous gas leak in Jordan’s southern port city of Aqaba has killed at least 10 people and injured around 250, authorities say.

Video carried by state-run media outlets shows a crane hoisting a large tanker from a truck and then dropping it on the deck of a ship, causing an explosion of yellow smoke and sending dock workers racing away.

BREAKING: 10 dead, > 200 injured in Aqaba #Jordan following toxic gas spill at port. Video when cylinder drops at 0:41 followed by yellow cloud: pic.twitter.com/JM57fwN5Wy

— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) June 27, 2022

The Public Security Directorate said a gas tank sprung a leak while being transported. It did not identify the contents of the tanker.

The directorate says authorities sealed off the area after evacuating the injured to hospitals and sent specialists in to address the situation.

The directorate says 10 people were killed and 251 injured. State-run al-Mamlaka TV said 199 were still being treated in hospitals.

مشاهد جديدة لتسرب "غاز الكلورين" السام في ميناء #العقبة الأردني جراء سقوط صهريج

يتميز الكلور باللون الأصفر المخضر، وهو أكثر كثافة من الهواء، وله رائحة نفاذة للغاية، ويتفاعل بسرعة مع العناصر الأخرى

من أهم المكونات المستخدمة يوميا في منتجات قتل الجراثيم والمبيدات الحشرية pic.twitter.com/s2eZiQubmV

— إرم نيوز (@EremNews) June 27, 2022

Dr. Jamal Obeidat, a local health official, urges people to stay inside and close windows and doors. The nearest residential area is 25 kilometers (15 miles) away.