Egyptian authorities have brought an explosion at the Port of Damietta under control after an incident during liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo operations, with shipping services firm Inchcape saying port activities are expected to gradually resume.
In a statement, Inchcape said local authorities responded quickly after an explosion was reported at the Mediterranean port during cargo discharge operations at the LNG terminal, News.Az reports, citing Al Jazeera.
“The vessels involved have been safely relocated outside the port area,” the company said, adding that operations at other berths and terminals are expected to restart during the night.
Earlier, maritime security firm Ambrey reported that a drone had struck a US-owned gas storage tanker at the port. Inchcape, however, described the incident as an explosion at the LNG terminal during cargo discharge operations without confirming the cause.
No immediate information was released regarding casualties or the extent of any damage.
Damietta is one of Egypt’s key Mediterranean ports and plays an important role in the country’s energy exports, including liquefied natural gas shipments. Authorities have not yet announced whether the incident will affect LNG exports beyond temporary disruptions to port operations.