A fire that broke out in a container ship in the main port of Dubai following an explosion has been brought under control and no casualties have been reported, the emirate's communications service announced on Thursday (July 8th). Gulf.
Speaking on television, the city's press service general manager, Mona al Marri, said the fire was caused by an explosion that occurred as part of a "normal accident" due to the presence flammable products in a container.
"A fire caused by an explosion inside a container aboard a boat at the port of Jebel Ali has been brought under control, no casualties have been reported," the Dubai communications service tweeted (Dubai Media Office, DMO).
A video accompanying the tweet shows firefighters harnessing themselves to a large boat full of containers from which thick white smoke gushes out.
الأجهزة المعنية تسيطر بكفاءة عالية على المرحلة الأخيرة من حريق اندلع في حاوية على متن سفينة تستعد للرسو على أحد أرصفة ميناء جبل علي, بعيدا عن الخط الملاحي الرئيسي للميناء دون حدوث أي إصابات أو وفيات.
pic.twitter.com/SycrtY0PQA
- Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 7, 2021
A helicopter was also dispatched to the site under very tight security and inaccessible, noted an AFP journalist.
At least three people residing near the blast site reported that the windows and doors of their homes were shaken by the incident.
Commercial zone
The authorities of the port of Jebel Ali assured to take "all the necessary measures so that the normal movement of ships in the port continues without any disturbance", added DMO.
Such events are rare in the ultra-secure city-state, one of the seven principalities that make up the United Arab Emirates.
Jebel Ali is the headquarters of the Emirati giant DP World, one of the world's main port operators, which manages 49 terminals around the world.
The large port in the south of the emirate can accommodate aircraft carriers and was the most active US Navy port of call outside of the United States in 2017, according to the US Congressional Research Service.
Some 8,000 companies are based in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), which contributed 23% to Dubai's gross domestic product (GDP) last year.
It is the largest commercial area in the Middle East.
With AFP and Reuters
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