The authorities confirmed that the decision to evacuate workers was a precautionary measure taken in accordance with established emergency protocols. Resumption of work was noted to be contingent on the elimination of all risks.

Eleven people were injured in the incident, sustaining injuries ranging from minor to moderate. 

Today, on Monday, September 14, 2026, Jordanian state television reported that the port of Aqaba had been evacuated as a precautionary measure following reports of an ammonia gas leak at the city's industrial complex. The official Jordanian channel quoted Nidal Al-Awran, the Environmental Safety Commissioner at the Aqaba Authority, 

An ammonia gas leak at an industrial complex in the port city of Aqaba 

Eleven people were injured in the incident, sustaining injuries ranging from minor to moderate. He confirmed that the Civil Defence and security forces were present at the scene to ensure public safety. State television reported that eleven people had suffered breathing difficulties following an ammonia gas leak at an industrial complex in the Red Sea port city of Aqaba in Jordan on Monday. The report added that the authorities had brought the leak under control.

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Activate an emergency response plan

A fertiliser company within Aqaba’s industrial complex experienced a leak, prompting the authorities to activate an emergency response plan and evacuate employees and workers from the site as a precaution. Access gates to the industrial complex were temporarily closed, and workers and employees at the new and main ports were urged to exercise caution and follow public safety instructions. Specialist teams were deployed to deal with the incident, subsequently bringing the ammonia leak under control.

The effusion occurred during the course of maintenance work on a defunct pump

 Al-Awran explained that the effusion occurred during the course of maintenance work on a defunct pump — undertaken by a Japanese company — due to the release of limited quantities of previously accumulated gas, resulting in injuries among workers in the vicinity of the site.

Emergency protocols

The authorities confirmed that the decision to evacuate workers was a precautionary measure taken in accordance with established emergency protocols. They noted that work would resume once field measurements had been completed and all risks had been eliminated. In coordination with the Aqaba Governorate, the relevant authorities are currently reviewing the safety of the procedures followed during the maintenance operation. This is to ensure that any issues are addressed and to prevent such incidents from happening again, but authorities did not immediately provide further details on the cause of the leak or the condition of those affected, beyond saying that the cases of breathing difficulties were mild to moderate.

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