Explosion on board a ship at a major international port in Dubai

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Dubai, United Arab Emirates (AFP) – A fiery explosion erupted in a container ship moored in Dubai at one of the world’s largest ports, authorities said late Wednesday, sending tremors across the commercial hub of the United Arab Emirates.

The flames set giant orange flames on a ship in the Middle East’s busiest port, Jebel Ali, located on the eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula.

The burning sent a shock wave across the skyscraper-studded city of Dubai, causing walls and windows to vibrate in neighborhoods 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the port. Terrified residents photographed skyscrapers as a fireball illuminated the night sky. The explosion was powerful enough to be seen from space by satellite.

There were no immediate reports of casualties at the port, which is the busiest port for US warships outside the United States.

About two and a half hours after the explosion, Dubai Civil Defense teams said they had brought the fire under control and had begun the “cooling process”. Authorities posted footage on social media of firefighters submerging giant shipping containers. The glow of the fire remained visible in the background as civil defense crews worked to contain the fire.

It was not immediately clear the extent of the damage to the sprawling port and the goods surrounding it. Footage circulated on social media showed charred cases, ash and scattered debris.

The sheer force and visibility of the explosion indicate the presence of a highly flammable substance. Dubai authorities told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV that the crew had left in time and that the fire apparently started in one of the containers containing a “flammable substance”, without elaborating.

In an attempt to downplay the explosion, Mona Al Marri, Director General of the Dubai Media Office, told Al Arabiya that the accident “could happen anywhere in the world” and that the authorities were investigating the cause.

Jebel Ali Port at the northern tip of Dubai is the largest man-made deep water port in the world and serves cargo from the Indian subcontinent, Africa and Asia. The port is not only an important global shipping hub, but also a lifeline for Dubai and neighboring Emirates, serving as the entry point for essential imports.

Dubai authorities did not identify the stricken ship after saying that it was a small vessel with a capacity of 130 containers.

MarineTraffic’s ship tracking showed a fleet of small support vessels surrounding a docked container ship called the Ocean Trader flying the flag of Comoros. Footage of the scene, rebroadcast by the official Emirates News Agency (WAM), showed firefighters washing with hoses on a ship bearing the paint and logo corresponding to the Ocean Trader, which is operated by Inzu Ship Charter in Dubai.

The Ocean Trader ship docked at Jebel Ali Port on Wednesday afternoon. Ship tracking data showed the ship had been sailing up and down the UAE coast since April. The United Nations Ship Database has identified the ship’s owners as a Sash Shipping Company. Sash and Inzu Ship Charter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Jebel Ali Port is operated by Dubai-based DP World, and boasts a handling capacity of more than 22 million containers and sprawling terminals that can dock some of the world’s largest ships. Port officials said they are “taking all necessary measures to ensure the normal movement of ships continues without any disruption.”

State-owned DP World describes Jebel Ali Port as a “gateway hub” and “a vital link in the global trade network” linking eastern and western markets. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the blast.

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Associated Press writer John Gambrill in Hamilton, Ohio contributed to this report.

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