A fire that broke out on a container ship in Dubai’s main port following an explosion, the emirate’s media office said Thursday, adding that the fire has been brought under control.
At least three residents in the area of the blast, the cause of which remains unknown, reported windows and doors in their homes were shaken as a result of the incident.
“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 wrote on Twitter.
The vessel had been preparing to dock late Wednesday, the office added in an another post.
Dubai police said three of the 130 containers on the ship held flammable materials.
“Initial reports indicate that… friction, or heat, may have led to the blast”, Dubai police chief Abdullah al-Marri told Al-Arabiya, adding that there were no radioactive substances or explosives present in the containers.
Such events are a rarity in the ultra-secure Gulf emirate, one of seven which make up the wealthy United Arab Emirates.
Jebel Ali port is capable of handling aircraft carriers and was the US Navy’s busiest port of call outside of the United States in 2017, according to the US Congressional Research Service.
The port authority said it was “taking all necessary measures to ensure the normal movement of ships in the port continues without any disruption”, according to the Dubai Media Office.
Source: Agencies
