An explosion and subsequent fire hit DP World’s Jebel Ali terminal in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday night, probably caused by a container holding flammable material onboard a ship, local authorities said.
The crew was evacuated, the fire was soon extinguished and there were no casualties, said the Dubai Media Office (DMO) adding that port authorities had taken measures to ensure normal shipping was not disrupted.
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While speaking at local news, Dubai Media Office (DMO) Director-General Mona Al Marri described this as a “normal accident” and identified a container holding flammable material as probable cause of the incident. On its part, Dubai Police said the blast might have been caused by “friction or high temperatures” during hot summer weather, according to Al Arabiya.
DMO did not identify the ship involved but said it had the capacity to carry 130 containers. It said the vessel had been preparing to dock at a berth “away from the port’s main shipping line”, Reuters reported.
The Jebel Ali Port, located 35 km southwest of Dubai, is one of the busiest ports in the Mideast and the Persian Gulf.
A fire caused by an explosion within a container on board a ship at Jebel Ali Port has been brought under control; no casualities have been reported. pic.twitter.com/oMTaJhgEYd
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 7, 2021