NEWS & BLOG
Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-01-22 Origin: Site
A fire broke out at the Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) in Pakistan on January 16.
According to a spokesperson for the rescue team, the central control room received a report in the afternoon that a container had spontaneously ignited.
It is reported that the container was loaded with electrical equipment, dry chemicals and lithium batteries. The fire then quickly spread to 19 surrounding containers, which were loaded with batteries, clothes and various daily necessities respectively. Eventually, a total of 20 containers were completely destroyed.
During the fire fighting, the terminal urgently dispatched 20 fire engines to participate in the rescue, and some port operation processes were temporarily interrupted.
Root Cause: Lithium batteries in the container are highly likely to be the main cause of spontaneous combustion, which is a typical risk point for dangerous goods in container transportation.
Spreading Factor: The mixed storage of dry chemicals and lithium batteries intensified the fire spread, and the lack of effective isolation measures in the yard exacerbated the accident scale.
Response Difficulty: The fire involves special substances that cannot be extinguished with water alone, requiring professional dry powder fire extinguishing agents, which increases the difficulty of emergency disposal.
Residual Hazard: The risk of re-ignition after the fire is high, and the cooling work after the fire is not in place, leading to repeated combustion.
| Link | Key Measures |
|---|---|
| Pre-shipment Declaration | Truthfully declare dangerous goods such as lithium batteries, mark the container with standard dangerous goods labels, and provide MSDS |
| Cargo Packaging | Use flame-retardant and explosion-proof packaging materials, and add thermal insulation and shock-proof buffers between lithium batteries and other goods |
| Container Stowage | Avoid mixing lithium batteries with incompatible chemicals; choose professional dangerous goods yards for stacking |
| Emergency Preparedness | Confirm the terminal's dangerous goods rescue capabilities in advance, and purchase sufficient cargo insurance covering fire and explosion risks |
Investigation Results: Pay attention to the findings of the special committee, especially the confirmation of the cause of the fire and the division of responsibilities.
Claim Progress: For the affected goods, sort out the claim materials as soon as possible and coordinate with the shipping company and insurance company for claim settlement.
Regulatory Adjustment: Pay attention to whether Pakistan will introduce stricter container dangerous goods management regulations after the accident.
