A massive fire broke out at the Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) on January 16, destroying at least 20 containers, officials said. The blaze, which started near Gate 20 at West Wharf around 1:45 p.m., caused significant financial losses, but no injuries or casualties were reported, as most workers were away.
Authorities reported that the fire spread rapidly from a single container to nearby units. The destroyed containers carried hazardous materials, including lithium batteries, chemical powders, electrical equipment, and clothes. Experts said the blaze may have been triggered by a lithium-ion battery thermal runaway, spontaneous combustion of chemical cargo, or an electrical short circuit.
Emergency services deployed more than 20 fire tenders to control the fire. Firefighting teams faced challenges because the fire required specialized powder extinguishers rather than water. The blaze was finally brought under control by 4:50 p.m., with cooling efforts continuing afterward.
Officials emphasized the swift and coordinated response of all emergency teams, which prevented the fire from spreading further and safeguarded port infrastructure. Preliminary investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess the full extent of financial losses.
