Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Bledisloe wharf on Auckland’s waterfront has been evacuated as fire crews battle a chemical fire.
Five fire trucks remain at the scene, while St John ambulance was called to treat one man with minor burns.
The Fire Service said the wharf was evacuated at 2.40pm on Saturday.
Downwind ships and businesses were told to clear the area and ferries were being warned to take a wide berth, Fire Service spokeswoman Dallas Ramsay said.
Ramsay said the incident was caused by a chemical reacting with water.
It’s believed the chemical was aluminum phosphide, which created a toxic phosphine gas.
Ports of Auckland spokesman Matt Ball said the incident was caused by a faulty tube of fumigant, which released the gas into a water tank.
“The gas ignited spontaneously in the water, causing a small fire and releasing clouds of gas into the air.”
Ball said staff had been told either to stay indoors, or if they were outdoors to evacuate the area.
He said he had spoken to the person who was reported to have burns but he was in fact OK.
An evacuated port worker, who did not want to be identified, had seen the cloud of gas from the next wharf over.
“It looked a bit misty, to be honest. We were a good half a kilometre away … it looked almost like a passing shower, like a rain cloud coming across or like a hazy day.”
Four of five container ships were being worked on at Bledisloe and nearby wharves and the workers were all evacuated, he said.
“Everyone left. There was a loud speaker just saying: Evacuate, evacuate.”
Pollution tests were being carried out by the Fire Service to see if it was safe to return to the wharf.
By 4.30pm the wharves were beginning to be reopened.
The Bledisloe Wharf is a multi-cargo site used as a container terminal.
Courtesy of stuff.co.nz
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
