Fire in the port of Manta, Ecuador, affects at least 14 fishing boats

Fire in the port of Manta, Ecuador, hits several fishing boats
A fire hit fishing boats in the port of Manta, Ecuador, this Saturday (6). A huge column of black smoke could be seen rising over the sea.
"We were reporting on the fishermen of Manta when an explosion was heard," said reporter Ana María Islas, from the N+ portal. "Probably from one of the gasoline tanks that the boats carry," she suggested.
According to a report in the Ecuadorian newspaper El Comercio, at least 14 fishing vessels and 21 speedboats caught fire. The number was reported by the ECU, the country's emergency response service.
The ECU also confirmed that at least two people were injured with burns and taken to hospitals in the region at around 3pm on Saturday. Both were on vessels located in the port's artisanal fishing area.
Fire hits fishing vessels in the port of Manta, Ecuador, on Saturday (6).
Ecuavisa/Reproduction
According to El Comercio, the fire department and police are investigating the cause of the fire and have restricted civilian access to the accident site.
Fishing epicenter
Smoke column in the fire of fishing boats in Manta, Ecuador, on Saturday (6).
El Comercio/Reproduction
The port of Manta is the main fishing hub in Ecuador and one of the most important in the South Pacific, moving more than thousands of tons of fish in a year, mainly tuna.
According to the N+ portal, the city mobilizes around 100 thousand fishermen as part of Manta's workforce.
In addition, the port is also a popular weekend tourist attraction for families, who gather to visit the shops on the pier.
Tourists are surprised by the fire in the port of Manta, Ecuador, on Saturday (6).
Diego Briones at X/Reproduction

Source: G1