Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) said rumors about a gas leak in the port city of Aqaba lack a proven origin and was not detected by monitoring stations, stressing that work is underway by follow-up teams “around the clock” via aerial surveillance. In a statement, ASEZA’s official spokesperson, Fayez Fayez, said a report was received from civil defense at 10:15am Thursday, stating that gas smell was felt in multiple locations in the city of unknown origin, and cases of panic were reported in Aqaba Secondary Comprehensive School and Hashemite School. Coordination was launched with Aqaba Civil Defense Directorate and the governorate to conduct an “immediate” field survey in all the city’s areas and follow up the instantaneous readings of gaseous pollutants through fixed and mobile surveillance stations, he said. Fayez also affirmed survey readings are “normal and within the permissible limits according to Jordanian Standard No. 1140/2006,” and showed smell in the city’s atmosphere does not have any source inside the port governorate. Based on the health data, a number of traumatized people were admitted to hospitals and the necessary measures were taken and all cases were discharged in “good” health. Fayez affirmed contact was made with the competent authorities in Aqaba and with concerned counterparts in the city of Eilat, which is adjacent to Aqaba, to detect any sources of gas leakage from its side, as the wind direction was southwest.
Source: Jordan News Agency