The defence department reported on Tuesday that a sizable fire at Turkey’s earthquake-devastated port of Iskenderun has been put out.
The fire necessitated the suspension of operations and the rerouting of freight liners to alternative ports.
Black smoke was seen billowing from burning containers at the port, which is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, in footage taken at the site.
The fire is thought to have started when some containers fell over on Monday during the shocks.
The Turkish marine authority reported that the earthquake also resulted in additional structural damage at the port.
One of Turkey’s two main container hubs, Iskenderun is home to heavy industries like steel. It is also a port.
Given the “serious structural damage, leading to a complete stop of all operations until further notice,” the largest shipping firm in the world, AP Moller Maersk, said it was looking to redirect ships as needed.
“We are currently planning to divert containers to nearby hubs within operational feasibility or hold at transshipment ports – including the Port of Mersin (in Turkey) and Port Said (in Egypt).” it said.
Maersk added it was working to assess the potential loss of cargo, but the fire had yet to be controlled by local authorities.
“It’s not yet known how long recovery efforts will take and when the port can undergo a full inspection of the damage.”
The fire at the port in Hatay province was assisted in extinguishing by a coast guard ship sent by the Turkish government.
The Turkish province of Hatay, which borders Syria, is one of those most seriously impacted by Monday’s 7.8-magnitude earthquake.
The regional ports’ activities resumed, according to the Turkish marine authority’s statement on Monday.
