A cigarette butt collection container at the Malta Freeport terminal prompted a warning from the Civil Protection Service to residents of Birżebbuġa on Tuesday afternoon.
At approximately 2 p.m., facility staff noticed smoke coming from a ship as containers were being unloaded and stacked in the Terminal XNUMX yard.
The announcement was that the container contained computer accessories.
Civil Protection was immediately notified and began placing the smoking containers in specialized containment trailers.
To avoid the risk of smoke inhalation, residents near the Freeport, especially in the Bengħajsa Talpapa area, are encouraged to close their windows on the advice of CPD officials.
By around 5.30pm the fire was under control and CPD responders used equipment to gain access to the container and successfully extinguished the flames.
No one was injured in the incident.
Freeport representatives thanked CPD and its staff for their swift action and said they were in contact with shipping lines and authorities.
