At least 13 casualties and over 250 injured have been reported thus far, following a poisonous chlorine gas explosion at the port of Aqaba in Jordan on Monday.

According to reports the explosion occurred after a tank filled with 25 tons of chlorine which was set to be exported to Djibouti fell while being transported.

Head of the Aqaba health department, Jamal Obeidat, while speaking via state warned citizens to remain indoors during hazardous crisis: “We advise citizens in Aqaba to stay indoors and close the windows. This gas is critical.” He said also noting that there could be more deaths linked to the leak.”

  A video posted on state television’s Twitter page, shows a storage tank falling from its holding apparatus then slamming into the deck of a ship, before a thick bright yellow-colored gas engulfed the air as people ran away.

The Civil Defence service said on its Facebook page that specialized teams had been deployed to deal with the gas, and planes were being sent to evacuate people from Aqaba.

Chlorine is a widely used disinfectant and water purification agent, however if inhaled, the gas turns to hydrochloric acid, which can lead to internal burning and drowning through a reactionary release of water in the lungs.

Jordan’s Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh is reported to have rushed directly to a hospital where some of the injured were being treated to get firsthand idea of the impact of the chemical disaster.

The area where the explosion happened on the Bay of Aqaba is approximately 12 miles from Israel’s southern city of Eilat.

Aqaba has a population of 188,000 people in addition to 50,000 who reside in Eilat.

Both cities connected by a land border crossing.