China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, one of the world’s busiest ports, reported an explosion on board a container ship on Friday, Chinese state media reported, creating shockwaves that were felt a kilometre away.
No casualties or injuries were reported after the blast on YM Mobility, a cargo ship owned by Taiwanese shipping firm Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp, at around 1:40 pm (0540 GMT), China’s official Xinhua news agency said.
The explosion among containers near the bow of the Liberia-flagged vessel sent cargo scattering and left a plume of black smoke.
The ship, currently docked at the port’s Beilun terminal, was transporting hazardous goods, the Ningbo Maritime Search and Rescue Centre said.
While the crew of the ship and dock workers were safe, some company offices located near the dock were hit by shock waves from the blast, state-run Qilu Evening News reported.
“Our windows were damaged, and the ceiling of our canteen collapsed a little,” a staffer at an affected company, located about 1 km (0.6 mile) from the ship, told Qilu Evening News.
The massive port, located in China’s eastern Zhejiang province, is operated by Ningbo Zhoushan Port Co.
It is also a major Chinese port loading and discharging oil from crude carriers.