Amman, Oct. 1 (Petra) – The Ministry of Environment said on Wednesday that initial investigations and a field inspection following a massive fire at a fabric storage site in the Al Hallabat area revealed serious environmental violations that contributed to the blaze.

In a statement, the ministry cited illegal expansion over more than 100 dunums of land and the storage of large quantities of flammable materials, including wood, polystyrene, scrap and mattresses items not covered under the site’s prior environmental approvals.

The ministry noted that it had previously taken a series of legal and administrative measures against the facility, including an order to halt operations in mid-September and referring the case to the judiciary last May after documenting clear violations. Operators had also signed a written pledge to rectify their practices, while formal letters were sent to relevant authorities to follow up on safety compliance.

Despite repeated warnings, the site continued to breach regulations, prompting the ministry to shut it down permanently and refer those responsible to judicial authorities, while obliging them to immediately remove all violations and encroachments.

The ministry stressed it would not tolerate any establishment that disregards environmental laws and regulations, pledging ongoing inspections and the toughest action against those who endanger the environment or public health.

It urged all facilities to fully comply with environmental legislation to safeguard citizens’ safety and protect natural resources.

//Petra// AF
01/10/2025 21:41:30