By Sarah El-Sheikh
A fire broke out in the customs area in southern Amman in Jordan when two trucks loaded with firework containers unexpectedly exploded, according to an Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement.
Eight people were killed, including five Egyptians and a Jordanian police officer. The others were unable to be unidentified due to their charred bodies. Twelve people were injured in the incident.
Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour requested the launch of an investigation to determine the accident causes.
The injured people were sent to Al-Hanan Hospital for treatment, and the Egyptian Ambassador to Jordan, as well as the Jordanian Prime Minister, Interior Minister, and Health Minister visited them in the hospital, according to the Egyptian Ambassador.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received a condolence call from his Jordanian counterpart Nasr Al-Gouda, the statement read.
The two trucks entered Jordan illegally, as in 2009 a Jordanian law was declared after several violent incidents to prohibit importing firecrackers and fireworks, except under certain regulations and specifications, according to the Civil Defense Directorate spokesman General Farid Al-Shara.
