Amman, Oct 27 (IANS): Five Jordanians and Egyptians were killed and 20 others injured on Monday when a truck laden with fireworks caught fire and exploded in Amman, the state-run Petra news agency reported.
The Civil Defence Department said the truck caught fire while parking at the yards of the Amman Customs Department, adding that about 10 cars nearby were also completely burnt, Xinhua reported.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said the accident occurred when the cargo was being unloaded from one truck to another to be exported to Nigeria.
Over the past few years, activists and local communities have been calling for banning fireworks in Jordan after several accidents including injuries to children and destruction of public and private property.