Fire @ Sharjah Port

Sharjah, UAE Sharjah closed its main cargo port on Saturday after a major fire overnight at a lubricants warehouse, police and port authorities said.

Major Jumaa al-Leem, head of Sharjah police public relations, told Reuters that Port Khalid would be completely closed for the day and it was still unclear when shipping would resume.

He said the fire, which started around 10:30pm at the oil storage facility of Emirates Lube Oil Co. was large but had been brought under control, though emergency crews were still trying to extinguish the last remnants.

The fire caused acute damage to an oil storage facility and to berths, officials confirmed on Saturday.

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

Source: Gulf News & Arabian Business