Three killed by electric shocks across Jordan; CDD blames negligence

AMMAN — Three people were electrocuted and died in separate accidents across the Kingdom in the previous 24 hours, the Civil Defence Department said on Tuesday.  

A 45-year-old man died of an electric shock in Muhajireen in West Amman, according to an official from CDD’s media office.

CDD emergency personnel administered first aid at the scene and transferred the man to Al Bashir Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival, the official said. 

A 47-year-old man in Marka suffered an electric shock and was taken to Marka Islamic Hospital, where he died, the spokesperson said. 

Meanwhile, a 17-year-old suffered an electric shock and died after stepping on bare wires connected to a fridge in his school’s cafeteria in Zarqa.  

Eid Abu Saqr was cleaning the school cafeteria with his classmates when the accident happened, the official said. 

CDD Media Director Brig. Gen. Farid Sharaa urged the public to check the electrical circuits in their homes to avoid accidents. 

“Most of the electrocution incidents we deal with are due to neglecting maintenance procedures in houses and installing electrical extensions inside buildings, including schools, shops and apartments,” he told The Jordan Times.

 He urged the public to add a protective layer to cables and wires at home and not to touch wires after washing their hands or doing the dishes, adding that such preventative measures need little effort but save precious lives.

“Electrical transformers can be also placed in a cupboard in order to avoid hazards and to ensure safer environments for children and other family members inside houses,” Sharaa added.

Meanwhile, one person was killed and 21 people were injured in road accidents across the Kingdom on Monday, the CDD said in a statement. 

In Fuheis in Balqa, one person died when a car wrongfully overtook another vehicle. CDD cadres took the body to Al Hussein Medical City. 

Also in Balqa, eight people were injured when a car changed lanes suddenly in Safout. They were listed in fair and critical conditions at Prince Hussein Government Hospital. 

A truck collided with a car on Sahrawi road in Madaba, injuring five people, the CDD said, adding that they were taken to Al Nadeem Government Hospital where they were listed in fair condition.  

In the capital, four people were injured in a three-vehicle collision in Shmeisani. They were listed in fair condition at Al Bashir Hospital. 

Four other people were injured in a two-vehicle collision in Amman’s Ein Ghazal and taken to Al Bashir Hospital, where their condition was listed as fair. 

The CDD also dealt with 169 fires and rescues, which caused 102 injuries, and responded to 485 medical emergencies over 24 hours, the department said. 

Sawsan Tabazah contributed to this report.