A major fire erupted at the Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) at Karachi Port on Friday, engulfing approximately 20 containers and temporarily halting operations for two ships, officials reported.
According to port sources, the blaze started in a stack of containers, with initial indications pointing to chemical containers as the origin. Other affected containers reportedly held electronics, cloth, chemicals, and lithium batteries.
Rescue 1122 confirmed that the fire spread rapidly, threatening multiple containers at the terminal. Firefighting teams responded immediately, deploying 13 fire tenders at first. As the situation intensified, the number of fire tenders was increased to 20, with all rescue personnel and Karachi Port security officials actively managing the scene.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, took notice of the incident and instructed authorities to use all available resources to control the blaze. The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) chairman and relevant officers were directed to oversee operations on-site.
Officials said that firefighting efforts had brought more than 80% of the fire under control. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, and port authorities are working to extinguish the remaining flames completely.
The KPT chairman has requested a detailed report on the incident and its potential causes. Meanwhile, operations at Karachi Port are expected to resume gradually once the site is fully secured.
This incident highlights the importance of strict safety measures at Karachi Port, one of Pakistan’s busiest trade hubs, where hazardous materials and high-value goods are frequently stored and transported.
In other news read more about: Chief Justice Afridi’s Son Involved in Car Accident in Islamabad
Authorities emphasized that the ongoing investigation will ensure accountability and help prevent similar incidents in the future, keeping Karachi Port operations safe and efficient.
