A blast at one of the ammonia storage tanks at an ice factory in Chaharrah Zand neighborhood of Ahwaz in Khuzestan Province sent dozens of people to hospital on Friday. “At 9 pm, the emergency number was dialed repeatedly by residents reporting an explosion in the city’s Shariati Street,” said Amir Najafi, director of Ahvaz Firefighters Organization. Ammonia leakage resulted in the release of a large amount of the gas in the vicinity of the company and caused the blast which sent parts of the metal tank flying in the air in adjacent streets. “No one was hurt physically, but nearly 20 residents were taken to hospital due to respiratory problems,” said Najafi.
