Deadly Ammonia Gas Leak at Basra Factory Sparks Official Investigation in Iraq

An ammonia gas leak at an industrial plant in southern Iraq over the weekend resulted in the deaths of at least two workers and left dozens injured, according to an announcement by the Health Ministry on Monday. The tragic incident took place at a state-run fertiliser factory located in the southern province of Basra.

Ministry spokesman Saif Al Badr stated that at least 114 people sustained injuries, though the majority have since been discharged from the hospital. He added that 21 individuals remain hospitalized, with one person currently in critical condition.

In response to the disaster, Minister of Industry and Minerals Mohammed Nouri has established a special committee tasked with investigating the root cause of the gas leak. Meanwhile, Basra Governor Asaad Al Eidani assured that the situation at the facility is now under control following an explosion, noting that gas supplies were successfully shut off and pumps secured to prevent any further blasts.

“The gas cloud has begun to dissipate and there is currently no danger threatening the area,” Governor Asaad Al Eidani informed the Iraqi News Agency.

He further highlighted the bravery of several individuals who suffered severe injuries while risking their lives to turn off the pumps, noting that a failure to do so could have triggered a massive explosion. Abbas Maher, the Mayor of Al Zubair district where the plant is situated, confirmed to the agency that residents living in nearby neighbourhoods were among the casualties.

Basra contains the vast majority of the nation's oil wealth, accounting for at least 70 per cent of Iraq's crude reserves and output, alongside nearly all of its exports through giant fields such as Rumaila, West Qurna, and Zubair feeding terminals in the Gulf.

Industrial safety continues to be a major concern throughout Iraq, where safety and security standards at industrial facilities are frequently noted as inconsistent. Oversight, staff training, and emergency response capabilities differ significantly across sites, many of which continue to operate with ageing equipment. Officials commonly attribute such accidents to a combination of technical faults, inadequate maintenance, and occasionally, negligence or sabotage.