Ammonia leak at Basra fertilizer plant kills two, injures dozens
A leak of ammonia gas at a state-run fertilizer plant in Basra killed at least two workers and left over a hundred people injured.
An ammonia gas leak at a state-run fertilizer factory in Basra province caused two deaths and injured at least 114 workers, according to the Health Ministry. Most of the injured have been discharged, but 21 remain hospitalized, including one in critical condition. The Ministry of Industry and Minerals’ minister directed a special investigative committee to determine the leak’s origin.
Basra’s governor confirmed that gas lines were shut and pumps were secured, averting a potential secondary blast. He noted that some seriously injured workers risked their lives to turn off the pumps. The mayor of Al Zubair district said nearby residents were also among the wounded. Officials highlighted ongoing concerns about inconsistent safety standards and aging equipment at Iraqi industrial sites.
Why it matters
The incident underscores persistent industrial safety gaps in Iraq’s oil-rich region, affecting workers and nearby communities.
In this story
