A fire has erupted within containers at turkey port due to the powerful earthquakes that shook the country.
Fire within containers
A fire has erupted within containers at the Port of Iskenderun turkey due to the powerful earthquakes that shook the country on Monday. An earthquake of magnitude 7.8 struck before the down followed by a 7.5 magnitude aftershock hours later.
Damage to Mearsk containers
“The port has unfortunately been subject to severe structural damage, leading to a complete stop of all operations until further notice. Roads have also been heavily affected, and at this time vendors are not moving any trucks in and around the area.” Shipping giant Maersk said in a statement.
Containers were toppled from the earthquake and a fire erupted within the overturned containers. Port operations were also halted due to the incident. Photos of the Port of Iskenderun show flames and smoke while fire fighting progresses.
Iskenderun Port: the consequence of earthquake and fire
“Given the situation at Iskenderun, we will need to perform a change of destination for all bookings bound for the port or already on the water. We are currently planning to divert containers to nearby hubs within operational feasibility. Or hold at transshipment ports – including Port of Mersin and Port Said.” they further added.
The natural disaster is heavily affecting logistics and transport in the region. Turkish The Turkish Maritime Authority inspected ports including the fire that erupted Port of Iskenderun.
“It was determined that docks at Iskenderun Port have collapsed during the assessment of damage to our coastal facilities,”. The director-general at Turkey’s Transport Ministry stated. “It was determined that docks at Iskenderun Port have collapsed during the assessment of damage to our coastal facilities,”. The director-general at Turkey’s Transport Ministry stated.
Other ports
Other ports aside from the Port of Iskenderun have been operating without any disruption. However, some ports were for the time being suspended due to the earthquake. And for the Maritime Authority of Turkey to assess the result of the disaster. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) terminal that exports Azeri crude oil is also closed through 8th February to assess the damages.
