Sixth person dies in Aqaba silo explosion incident

AMMAN — An Aqaba silo employee died in the hospital late on Monday night, raising the death toll of the explosion that happened last week during demolition work in Aqaba to six victims, Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) Chief Commissioner Nasser Shraideh said.

The explosion, which occurred on May 14, resulted in the critical injury of nine workers, as several contracting companies were demolishing construction sites at the premises.

The latest victim had been transferred yesterday to Amman along with another employee for further medical attention.

 “We lost another person and this is really unfortunate. We offer our deepest condolences to their families,” Shraideh told The Jordan Times, noting that the contracting companies have reached out to the families of the victims for settlements.

“The companies reached tribal and financial settlements with the majority of the victims’ families,” he stated.

The prosecutor has charged the contracting and sub-contracting companies tasked with demolishing the old port with causing the death and harm of individuals.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the two companies failed to adopt the required safety measures in accordance with their contracts, according to Shraideh.

ASEZA issued a statement on Monday stating that the cause of the explosion was due to “a spark from iron wielding or another electric source”, adding that ASEZA closed down the premises to allow rescue teams and investigators a quick and easy access to the area.

The demolition of the silos was part of an executive plan to handover the port’s site and the third phase of the Marsa Zayed project, Shraideh said in April, noting that preparing the infrastructure at the old port and demolishing and removing the rubbles of the old facilities such as the warehouses, silos and other parts will be accomplished by the end of August.