 "This image shared on Chinese social media and carried by state media outlets on August 9 shows the aftermath of a shipping container explosion on a cargo ship moored at Ningbo Zhoushan Port in China's eastern Zhejiang province. X")
A major explosion rocked a port in eastern China on Friday. The country’s state media reported that the incident took place in the Zhejiang province at the port of Ningbo-Zhoushan.
According to the Chinese news outlet Xinhua, the explosion hit a container ship that was berthed at the port, causing flames and smoke to bellow from the region. The reports show that the explosion occurred around 1:40 pm (local time). While no casualties have been reported as of now, the authorities have launched an investigation into the matter.
The container ship was carrying hazardous goods
According to The Associated Press, the container ship which witnessed the explosion was carrying hazardous goods while it was stationed at a major port on China’s Pacific coast.
In the videos that are circulating online, a huge burst of white smoke can be seen engulfing the sky which is followed by an orange and yellow fireball that dispersed debris and completely engulfed containers stacked at least three high.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe authorities stated that the explosion ensued fire at the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, just south of Shanghai and one of the largest in the world. Some recent reports also suggested that a container on the docked ship is believed to have exploded.
Amid the chaos, the Zhejiang Province Emergency Management Administration said the ship was loaded with Class 5 hazardous materials, but it didn’t say what they were.
Taiwanese cargo ship affected
After the news broke out, Taiwanese shipping firm Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp said that it was one of its cargo ships that caught fire in the Friday incident.
The firm noted that the fire occurred on board the YM Mobility while it was operating in the port. “At present, immediate fire-fighting measures have been taken at the scene, the fire has been brought under control, and all the ship’s personnel have been safely evacuated,” the company said in a statement.
While no one was injured in the incident, some company offices located near the dock stated that they were hit by the shockwaves from the blast.
“Our windows were damaged, and the ceiling of our canteen collapsed a little,” an employee of a company located about 1km from the ship told Qilu Evening News.
With inputs from agencies.