DUBAI : A huge explosion inside a container on a ship docked at the Dubai port caused a massive fire on the vessel and shook the gleaming commercial hub of the UAE, authorities said on Thursday.

The blast occurred in the container aboard the vessel, preparing to dock away from the Jebel Ali Port's main shipping line at around midnight on Wednesday. According to initial reports, there was, however, no loss of lives.

Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri said: "The fire in Jebel Ali Port broke out on board a small-sized container ship. No casualties were reported." Director General of Dubai Civil Defense, Major General Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi told Dubai Media Office that the fire was brought fully under control some two and a half hours after the incident and the cooling process had started.

An official told a local TV channel that the crew had managed to evacuate in time before the fire caused one of the containers to explode. The nature of the material in the container is not known at the moment.

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

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