Cause of Aqaba's silos explosion to be determined this week

AMMAN — The results of investigations into an explosion in the silos in Aqaba last week, which left three people dead, will be determined early this week, said Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) Chief Commissioner Nasser Shraideh.

“The unfortunate work-related accident is still under investigation to determine the cause of the incident and who is to be blamed,” Shraideh told The Jordan Times on Saturday.

On Monday, silos in Aqaba exploded leaving dozens injured and burnt, according to Shraideh, who said “three men lost their lives since the explosion occurred, while four others remained in hospital, some with life-threatening burns”.

The chief commissioner said that several contracting companies were in the area of the silos getting ready to “demolish the silos when the incident occurred”.

“We still do not have a clear idea of what happened or who is responsible and, hopefully, the investigation will reveal what happened and who is responsible,” Shraideh said.

A Civil Defence Department (CDD) official contacted by The Jordan Times declined to reveal information about the incident on Saturday.

“We are still investigating the incident in coordination with other relevant officials who will announce the result of the investigations in due course,” the CDD official said.

The demolition of the silos was part of an executive plan to hand over the port’s site and the third phase of the Marsa Zayed project, Shraideh said in April.

He added 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 at the end of August.