Fire and Explosion at Hamburg Port: Several Injured, Major Highway Closed

Major Disruption at Key European Port Following Explosion

A warehouse fire triggering a chemical explosion at Hamburg Port has resulted in multiple injuries and the closure of a critical highway. The incident, involving suspected nitrous oxide containers, caused significant logistical disruptions at Germany's largest universal port. Emergency services are investigating.

HAMBURG, Germany — A fire broke out at a warehouse in Germany's largest port, the Port of Hamburg, on Saturday afternoon, leading to an explosion that injured several people and caused significant disruptions.

The incident occurred at around 3:30 p.m. local time. The local fire department confirmed to media that a "single-digit" number of people were injured, though they could not provide an exact figure at the time. Emergency services, including multiple fire engines and ambulances, were dispatched to the scene, and personnel were evacuated from the area.

According to police reports on social media, the force of the explosion propelled debris onto the nearby A7 autobahn. As a safety precaution, authorities have closed both directions of the highway. German media reported that the closure resulted in massive traffic jams, with waiting queues stretching up to 12 kilometers (approximately 7.5 miles).

Preliminary investigations by the fire department suggest the accident may have been triggered by a car fire inside the warehouse. The blaze then intensified significantly after igniting several pressure gas containers stored on the premises. It is suspected that these containers held nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.

The Port of Hamburg, located in northern Germany, is the country's largest universal port and the third-largest of its kind in Europe. It is also a crucial global hub for sea-rail logistics.