Sarayreh offers condolences to Aqaba silos explosion victims' families

AMMAN — On behalf of Prime Minister Hani Mulki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs Jamal Sarayreh on Saturday visited the house of condolences of Fuad Abu Aradeh, who died in the Aqaba silos incident.

Sarayreh offered the government's condolences to the family of Abu Aradeh, noting that the loss of six lives was a "loss for the entire nation", the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Abu Aradeh died in hospital late Monday night, raising the death toll of an explosion that happened a week earlier during demolition work in Aqaba to six victims.

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.

Sarayreh voiced the government's concern to follow up on all legal procedures in dealing with the rights of the victims of the explosion. 

Members of Abu Aradeh's family expressed their appreciation for the government's follow up on the rights of Fuad and the other victims.

On Friday, Sarayreh visited Karak Governorate's Southern Ghor District where he offered condolences to the families of four victims of the silo incident, stressing that "the government will take all procedures necessary to follow up on the employees' rights after gathering information and identifying the reason for the explosion". 

The minster also visited the family of the fifth victim in Marka to whom he offered condolences, listened to their demands and pledged to proceed with legal procedures in the incident and present any necessary support. 

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 Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) Chief Commissioner Nasser Shraideh.

ASEZA issued a statement last week 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 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.