Five killed, 20 injured in Jordan truck explosion

Amman: Five Jordanians were killed and 20 others injured when a truck laden with fireworks caught on fire and exploded in Amman.

The Civil Defense Department said the truck caught on fire while parking at the yards of the Amman Customs Department, adding that about 10 cars nearby were also completely burnt, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said the accident occurred when the cargo was being unloaded from one truck to another to be exported to Nigeria.

The prime minister has ordered an investigation into the accident.

Over past few years, activists and local communities have been calling for banning fireworks in Jordan after causing several accidents including injury to children and destruction to public and private properties.