Jordan on Sunday dismissed senior officials at the country's main Red Sea port of Aqaba port after finding gross negligence was behind the deaths of thirteen people following a chlorine gas leak at a major berth.
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The deaths and injury of over 300 workers came after a crane loading chlorine containers onto a ship last Monday dropped one onto the quay, causing it to explode. read more
Jordan's cabinet took the decision to fire the director-general of state-owned Aqaba Company for Ports Operation & Management and other port officials after an investigation showed "negligence and major deficiencies" in safety protocols, Prime Minister Bisher al Khasawneh said in a Twitter post.
At a press conference on Sunday, Interior Minister Mazin al Farrayeh said the results of the investigation, which began shortly after the incident and includes the testimony of more than 120 people, would be handed over to the public prosecutor.
"The necessary measures for general safety in handling such dangerous hazardous materials were not taken," Farrayeh said, adding he expected those responsible to be put on trial.
Industry experts said the incident could have turned into a catastrophe had dozens of workers ending a shift not left the site shortly before the leak. Winds also blew the toxic gas away from populated areas in the port city to the outlying desert.
