Fire Erupts at Karachi Port, No Casualties Reported
KARACHI: Atleast 20 containers have been destroyed by fire erupted at Karachi Port Trust KPT this afternoon. Number of containers were loaded with electrical batteries, some had clothes and some with miscellaneous goods. No causality has been reported as workers were on prayer break.
South-DIG Syed Asad Raza told media that the police responded immediately after the fire broke out at the Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) on West Wharf. Rescue and fire teams reached the site quickly to contain the blaze.
Hassaan Ul Haseeb Khan, spokesperson for Rescue 1122, said the central command received information around 1:45 pm about the fire at gate-20 of West Wharf. “Another container caught fire before our team arrived,” he explained. Backup rescue teams were called in to assist in controlling the situation.
Batteries Likely Triggered Blaze, Authorities Investigate
According to Khan, the initial container contained electrical, dry chemical, and lithium batteries. These batteries can spontaneously ignite, triggering fires that spread rapidly. “The fire engulfed 19 other containers carrying batteries, clothes, and other items,” he added. The blaze caused significant financial losses.
Khan explained that controlling the fire was challenging. It did not respond to water but required specialized fire-suppressing powder. The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation provided water tankers, while 20 fire tenders from Rescue 1122, KMC Fire Brigade, KPT, and the Pakistan Navy helped control the fire by 4:50 pm.
He noted that such battery fires are becoming an emerging safety hazard, especially due to lithium batteries used in electric vehicles. He recalled a similar incident last year in Defence Housing Authority, where an electric vehicle fire caused two deaths and several injuries. Rescue teams are now collaborating nationally to tackle these new types of fires.
However, Raza said preliminary investigations suggested the fire may have started due to a short circuit in a container filled with clothes. The fire spread to adjacent containers but was completely controlled by 4:30 pm. Cooling operations continued after containment.
Coordinated Emergency Response Prevents Further Damage
A KPT source confirmed that the fire quickly spread across containers at the KICT West Wharf. Eight fire tenders from KPT, four from the Pakistan Navy, one from Karachi Shipyard, and two from KMC were deployed. Swift coordination helped contain the fire and protect port infrastructure.
The source praised the professionalism and teamwork of all agencies involved, emphasizing that such coordination prevented a larger disaster. No injuries were reported, and authorities continue to assess the total financial loss.
This incident comes amid growing concerns about the safety of batteries and electrical goods in storage. Fire safety officials warn that lithium and chemical batteries, if not handled properly, can pose serious risks to workers and property.
