Huge container ship suddenly explodes into fireball while docked in port

Terrifying video footage reveals the moment a cargo ship docked in Eastern China exploded into a large fireball.

Videos shared by Chinese media show the container ship, which had been docked at Beilun port, part of the larger Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan in Zhejiang Province suddenly erupting into flames.

The incident took place at around 1:46 pm local time (06:46 BST).

CCTV footage shows the container exploding, with a large plume of smoke and debris erupting into the air. It is currently not known what caused the explosion however a report from Reuters, citing local media in the region, are currently saying there are currently no serious casualties from the explosion.

A report from China News Network has added that the vessel has been identified as a Taiwanese-owned ship currently sailing under the flag of Liberia and had been docked Ningbo Beilun Phase III Terminal in Ningbo-Zhoushan Port.

Ningbo-Zhoushan port is one of the world's busiest cargo port with more than 1.25 billion tonnes of cargo thought to pass through the port every year (according to a 2022 report).

The port has around 300 container routes which connecting over 600 ports in various countries worldwide.

Discussion around what could've happened at the port is currently trending on Chinese social media site Weibo, with clips of the explosion being watched and shared thousands of times.

"An explosion occurred in the Beilun Port area of ​​Ningbo Zhoushan Port. It looks like a container exploded. What is in it? Oh my God," one person wrote, while another person wondered: "What is inside [to cause] such a powerful explosion?"

"Fortunately, there were no casualties! I can't imagine if such a thing would happen while the ship was sailing," a third person wrote, while a fourth claimed that 'only the front part of the box was damaged' in the explosion.

The cause of the blast is yet to be released, however a report from Ningbo Maritime Search and Rescue Centre states that the ship had been transporting 'hazardous goods'.

State run agency Qilu Evening News has also reported that offices near the dock were damaged from shock waves.

"Our windows were damaged, and the ceiling of our canteen collapsed a little," a staffer at a company located about 1 km (0.6 mile) from the ship, told the site (via Reuters).