A container onboard a ship containing flammable material in Dubai’s biggest port went up in flames late on Wednesday night following a blast that made the commercial hub of the UAE tremble with the shock.
Though there were no casualties reported, the fire left thousands of citizens shocked as the explosion shook several buildings and their windows in areas as far as 25 kilometres away from the Jebel Ali Port, the largest in Middle East.
Local authorities said the situation is under control through a tweet. “A fire caused by an explosion within a container on board a ship at Jebel Ali Port has been brought under control; no casualties have been reported,” the Dubai Media Office (DMO) shared on Twitter.
The cause of the blast was not immediately known as was the extent of damage incurred due to the destroyed ships and containers. Residents in the neighbourhood reportedly experienced the effects of it as they witnessed a massive yellow ball followed by a loud sound that rattled their doors and windows.
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The port in question is the busiest in Dubai as it is the port of call for American warships outside the US.
The Dubai government released a statement on Thursday saying that the fire was brought under control by the emergency services in 40 mins. Social media was flooded with pictures of firefighters putting off the blaze on the container ship.
The incident, however, will not affect the regular movement of ships, as the port officials said they will ensure all measures are taken to continue normal operations “without any disruptions”.
Director-general of the DMO, Mona al-Marri, said the incident could have occurred anywhere in the world but the government chose to inform the news through quick statements in order to keep the rumours to bay. The cause of the fire is being probed, she added.
The government’s communication office said that the ship hasn’t been identified yet but before Wednesday’s incident, it was preparing to dock at one of the berths that were located “away from Jebel port’s main shipping line”.
There were 14 sailors on board during the incident but all were safely evacuated in time, Al Arabiya reported.
The explosion was captured on phone cameras of Dubai residents at around 7:45 GMT after people witnessed the shocking fiery ball illuminating in the night sky.
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The Gulf News reported Lt General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander in chief of Dubai Police saying that the fire erupted at a cargo ship at dockside 14. It was carrying 130 containers and 3 of them had flammable material. However, none contained explosives or any radioactive material, he added.
The Jebel Ali Port serves cargo and shipments from India, Asia and Africa. Situated in north Dubai, it is the largest constructed deep-water harbour and is operated by the DP world. It can berth some of the world’s largest ships in the 4 container terminals it possesses. It acts as the UAE’s entry point for several essential imports.
A “gateway hub” as described by the DP World, Jebel Ali is a major global cargo hub and “a vital link in the global trade network”.
