Launch fire prevented from spreading

A major disaster was averted after an alert staff member untied the anchorage of the cargo vessel that was parked beside the Sharjah court.

The incident occured at around 2pm when the medium-sized cargo vessel filled with goods that was about to be unloaded caught fire sending huge plumes of smoke into the air bringing traffic to a halt.

One person was injured in the incident and was taken to Kuwaiti hospital, said a Sharjah Civil Defence official supervising the operations at the site.

Soon after the incident rescue boats owned by the Sharjah Ports Authority were rushed to the spot to put off the fire.

"Soon after the fire broke out, one of the crew members untied the anchorage in order to prevent the fire from spreading to several other boats that were parked nearby. Thanks to the wind, the boat drifted along along the creek and moved to the other side," said a senior defence official.

According to him, the cause of the fire is still being investigated. "We still do not know who owns the boat and was was inside," the officer added.

Traffic meanwhile came to a halt after a massive smoke from the boat engulfed the Sharjah skyline. Police had to block the creek road and chase away curious onlookers. Police also confiscated the mobile phones of some of the onlookers who tried to take pictures of the accident.