28 June 2003
WADI MUJIB. Ten people fell to their death and seven others were injured Thursday morning when a bridge that was under construction over the Wadi Mujib dam collapsed, official sources said.
The incident, which occurred around 5:00am, happened as construction workers were pouring cement to complete a part of the bridge that was being built over the side of the dam, located some 70 kilometres south of the capital, the sources explained.
“Part of the bridge fell suddenly pulling approximately 35 workers down about 60 metres on either side of the dam,” said the head of the Karak Civil Defence Department, Colonel Ibrahim Sarayrah.
He told The Jordan Times that four of the workers were killed instantly, while the rest died on their way to nearby hospitals.
The bridge is being constructed as a link between the towns of Madaba and Karak, Sarayrah explained.
“The poured cement fell as a single block, without making any noises or showing any cracks, which could have warned employees that something was wrong. None of them had time to get away before the collapse,” explained one worker, who preferred to remain anonymous.
Seven other workers were injured and rushed to nearby hospitals suffering from minor injuries, the source added.
Prime Minister Ali Abul Ragheb ordered the formation of a technical committee comprised of officials from the ministries of water and irrigation, and public works and housing, as well as representatives from the Contractors and Engineers Association to examine the causes behind the tragic accident.
Officials identified the deceased as Akram Rifai, 33, his younger brother, Amer, 31, Harab Amin, 36, Shibli Mohammad, 22, Amjad Al Mansi, 34, Hussam Mahmoud, 22, Nidal Abdul Raouf, 33, Awad Shakhanbeh, 51, Abdul Kader Masarweh, 25, and Abdul Kader Anjadi, 43.
The project, estimated to cost JD30 million, was expected to be completed by year's end, one official told The Jordan Times.
In a statement from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, officials indicated that a Greek contractor under the supervision of a German consultant was executing the construction work.
“[Water and Irrigation Minister Hazem Nasser] asked the [German] consultant to submit a report detailing the technical failure and stating who was responsible for the partial collapse of the bridge,” the statement said.
The Jordan News Agency, Petra, also reported that a local company was involved in the project.
WADI MUJIB. Ten people fell to their death and seven others were injured Thursday morning when a bridge that was under construction over the Wadi Mujib dam collapsed, official sources said.
The incident, which occurred around 5:00am, happened as construction workers were pouring cement to complete a part of the bridge that was being built over the side of the dam, located some 70 kilometres south of the capital, the sources explained.
“Part of the bridge fell suddenly pulling approximately 35 workers down about 60 metres on either side of the dam,” said the head of the Karak Civil Defence Department, Colonel Ibrahim Sarayrah.
He told The Jordan Times that four of the workers were killed instantly, while the rest died on their way to nearby hospitals.
The bridge is being constructed as a link between the towns of Madaba and Karak, Sarayrah explained.
“The poured cement fell as a single block, without making any noises or showing any cracks, which could have warned employees that something was wrong. None of them had time to get away before the collapse,” explained one worker, who preferred to remain anonymous.
Seven other workers were injured and rushed to nearby hospitals suffering from minor injuries, the source added.
Prime Minister Ali Abul Ragheb ordered the formation of a technical committee comprised of officials from the ministries of water and irrigation, and public works and housing, as well as representatives from the Contractors and Engineers Association to examine the causes behind the tragic accident.
Officials identified the deceased as Akram Rifai, 33, his younger brother, Amer, 31, Harab Amin, 36, Shibli Mohammad, 22, Amjad Al Mansi, 34, Hussam Mahmoud, 22, Nidal Abdul Raouf, 33, Awad Shakhanbeh, 51, Abdul Kader Masarweh, 25, and Abdul Kader Anjadi, 43.
The project, estimated to cost JD30 million, was expected to be completed by year's end, one official told The Jordan Times.
In a statement from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, officials indicated that a Greek contractor under the supervision of a German consultant was executing the construction work.
“[Water and Irrigation Minister Hazem Nasser] asked the [German] consultant to submit a report detailing the technical failure and stating who was responsible for the partial collapse of the bridge,” the statement said.
The Jordan News Agency, Petra, also reported that a local company was involved in the project.
By Rana Husseini
© Jordan Times 2003
