Midnight fire cripples cargo port in Sharjah

Dubai: A massive fire which erupted at Sharjah's Port Khalid on Friday night has caused acute damage to an oil storage facility and two berths, officials confirmed on Saturday.

Firefighters on Saturday fought to contain the fire and prevent the flames from reaching main oil storage facilities. There were no reports of casualties.

"Despite the inferno, the situation is under control and the port will not be shut. Only a part of the port, damaged by the fire, has been closed," Rashid Al Leem, Director-General of Ports in Sharjah, told Gulf News.

Port Khalid is the biggest of Sharjah's ports and handles container goods, bulk cargo and petroleum products.

Saif Al Shafar, undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior who was at the scene on Saturday, said the estimated loss and cause of the fire "would be difficult to establish now as thousands of oil barrels are still on fire." He said three tankers have been destroyed in the blaze.

Thick black smoke continued to billow on Saturday night, nearly 24 hours after the fire broke out at 11.20pm on Friday at Emirates Lube Oil Company Ltd premises.