At least 13 dead, 251 injured in toxic gas leak at Jordan’s Aqaba port

A crane loading chlorine tanks onto a ship in Jordan's port of Aqaba on Monday dropped one of them, causing an explosion of toxic yellow smoke that killed at least 13 people and sickened some 250, authorities said.

Local media said that during the daily work at the port of Aqaba on Monday, a tanker filled with a toxic gaseous substance fell during its transportation, which led to an explosion and gas leak at the site.

The authorities added that the area was immediately isolated and experts arrived at the site and began installing devices to monitor the environment.

The Civil Defense transferred a number of casualties to the hospital, all of them are under treatment.

The police confirmed that the number of deaths due to the leakage of toxic gas from a tanker in the port of Aqaba and said the number of injured were now 251 people.

The authority said 13 people were killed and 251 injured.

Local TV channel said 199 were still being treated in hospitals.

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

Aqaba is on the northern tip of the Red Sea, next to the Israeli city of Eilat, which is just across the border.

Both are popular beach and diving destinations. There were no reports of injuries or contamination in Eilat.

It is not clear what kind of toxic substance was in the container.

The authorities have urged members of the public to stay away from the site.