A fire at the Port of Antwerp is now under control after it caused an evacuation of all sea-faring vessels and local businesses in the area.
The blaze began in the evening of August 11, 2018, after a store of nickel oxide set alight in a 6,000 m² warehouse at Antwerp’s Leopold Dok, Antwerp's bulk terminal.
Throughout the next day, emergency services managed to bring the fire under control, but a large amount of a fabric setting alight made the emergency procedures more difficult.
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The smoke caused the cancellation of operations in a restricted zone set out by the port authority (below).
People living just outside of these limits were also encouraged to close all windows and doors.
Smouldering fire in the #portofantwerp: local contingency plan has been activated. Ships and companies in the area have been evacuated (see photo). Ship traffic on river Scheldt, Kanaaldok & road traffic A12 not impacted. More info: call 1771 (Belgium) or +32 78 15 1771 (abroad). pic.twitter.com/OQovkvwL8k
— Port of Antwerp (@PortofAntwerp) August 12, 2018
While traffic could continue on the A12 road and through the Scheldt and Kanaaldok shipping lanes, the fire led to the closure of the western part of the Luithagen, and everything between Leopold Dok and south of the Churchill Dok.
By late morning on August 12, 2018, the emergency services could begin extinguishing the fire after its temperature decreased and were able to lift the evacuation perimeter by late evening to begin a site clean-up.
The port has stated that an odour may remain, but it is not a health risk.
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