Egypt’s Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli said a coordinated response by state agencies prevented a potentially catastrophic explosion after a drone attack ignited a fire aboard a gas regasification vessel at Damietta Port on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference following the weekly Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Madbouli said the government was notified of the fire at around 2:20 p.m. and immediately activated a national crisis management plan involving the ministries of transport, petroleum, electricity, the armed forces, security agencies and emergency services.
The attack targeted two vessels at the port, including a floating regasification unit used to convert imported liquefied natural gas into natural gas for Egypt’s national grid. A nearby LNG storage vessel escaped damage, while the regasification vessel sustained limited impacts from the fire.
Madbouli said emergency crews quickly disconnected the two vessels, evacuated personnel from the affected ship and deployed four Egyptian tugboats to tow it more than 3.5 kilometers away from the port to reduce the risk of an explosion that could have devastated the port and surrounding facilities.
Firefighting operations lasted more than 14 hours, using conventional methods as well as specialized chemicals, aircraft and drones to monitor the blaze. Authorities declared the fire under control early Thursday, eliminating the risk of a major explosion.
Preliminary investigations have concluded that the fire was caused by a drone attack, although no group has claimed responsibility.
Madbouli said security agencies are analyzing evidence, including drone debris recovered from the vessel, to determine the source of the attack before deciding on any further response.
Despite the incident, Damietta Port remained fully operational, with about 15 ships entering and leaving the port during the emergency.
The prime minister also said Egypt’s electricity and natural gas supplies were not disrupted, as contingency plans and alternative fuel sources were activated immediately after the damaged vessel was taken out of service.
He added that a standby regasification vessel in Jordan’s Aqaba Port would be brought into operation while repairs are carried out.
