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28 March 2024

Dubai Creek cargo boat blaze doused

(DENNIS.B. MALLARI)

Published
By VM Sathish

A fire that broke out in a cargo boat in Dubai Creek early Sunday morning has been doused. Civil defence personnel struggled to keep the major blaze from spreading along docks on one of the city's busiest commercial waterways. There was fear the blaze may spread to the cargo berth where hundreds of tonnes of outbound cargo goods are kept. 

(DENNIS.B. MALLARI)

The fire caused by a cylinder explosion in a boat had quickly engulfed the adjacent cargo boat, too. According to an eye-witness, two boats went up in flames following a gas cylinder explosion in one of the kitchens, where workers were cooking food.

(DENNIS.B. MALLARI)

Police say the fire broke out on a loading platform along Dubai Creek, which connects to the Gulf and is a main location for dhows that sail routes to other Gulf nations and to the East African coast.

(DENNIS.B. MALLARI)

No word on injuries or damages reported yet.

(DENNIS.B. MALLARI)

EARLIER STORY:

Eyewitness accounts told 'Emirates24|7' that motorists and residents are increasingly gathering at the site to watch the boat on fire, which is harboured on the etisalat building side, in Dubai Chamber of Commerce area.

(DENNIS.B. MALLARI)

There are  several cargo boats and dhows, which shuttle goods from the UAE to various countries. “This fire has been on for more than half-an-hour. People fear the blaze may engulf cargo stored nearby, said another eyewitness.

An eye witnesses said: “We have a very good view of the fire from our windows. It has been going on for more than half an hour and Dubai Civil Defence team is trying to control the fire."