Container ship goes up in flames in Hull with roads and museum forced to close as swathes of city are blanketed with thick smoke

Daily Mail​

9 hours ago

A container ship has gone up in flames in Hull forcing a museum and roads across the city to close.
Smoke billowed from Albert Dock on Friday with people a mile away in the city centre left struggling to see.
Others coughed and spluttered as the thick fumes drifted across the area after a cargo vessel carrying 3,500 tonnes of scrap metal caught fire.
Five fire engines rushed to the scene and remained there into the evening, with Humberside Fire Service urging people to keep their windows and doors closed to keep out the smoke.
Earlier, several roads across Hull were closed, while proceedings at Hull Combined Court and Hull Magistrates' Court were halted.
The site of The Big Malarkey Festival in East Park, a literary event for children, was evacuated ahead of a busy weekend of sessions for school children.
Meanwhile, all of the sites under the remit of Hull Museums were closed following the blaze, as well as many businesses in the city centre.
People across the city complained of horrendous smells as the thick smoke descended on streets and shops on Friday, the BBC reports.
Everyone on board the ship has been accounted for, the fire service later confirmed, with the closed roads reopening at around 6pm.
A spokesperson for Humberside Fire Service said: 'Our firefighters are making good progress in tackling the fire, which involves cargo of scrap metal. There is still visible smoke in the area, along with steam as a result of ongoing firefighting efforts.
'Five fire engines and an aerial ladder platform remain on scene. Our firefighters are continuing to work with port authorities and emergency service partners.
'We are advising people to keep windows and doors closed and to avoid the area around the dock where possible. Road closures from earlier today have been removed, but there may be delays to local traffic.'
Associated British Ports, which runs Albert Dock, said: 'We are currently aware of a fire on a vessel in the location of a tenanted area, and we are assisting the fire service with the response.'