Container Fire at Port of Antwerp Causes Evacuations and Operations Halt

A container fire at the Port of Antwerp led to evacuations and the suspension of operations in sections of the container terminals overnight. Emergency services worked to neutralize the danger, resulting in a 12-hour halt in operations with vessels being evacuated as a precaution. The fire, reported at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday night in the Beveren area, involved a container containing yellow phosphorus, a highly toxic chemical commonly used in industrial applications.

The MPET terminal and DP World facility, along with a ship moored in the port, were evacuated as a safety measure. Vessel traffic at Deurganckdok was also temporarily halted. The fire service, in collaboration with chemical company BASF and the port, worked to secure the container. Operations at MPET and Deurganckdok remained suspended as efforts continued to ensure safety.

By 7:30 a.m. on Monday, the fire service reported that the container had been relocated to a safe area. The port authorities were striving to resume all activities promptly. This incident marked the second disruption in operations at the Port of Antwerp this month, following an oil contamination issue on June 6 that affected multiple ships in the Deurganckdock area. Operations at the port’s locks were also temporarily suspended until the cleanup operation was completed on June 18.

Source .