Car blast at Port of Wellington sparks fire

The Fire Service is checking the Wellington waterfront for hazardous substances after a shipping container exploded this morning.

The container, with a car inside, exploded at CentrePort on Aotea Quay on the Wellington waterfront about 5am.

The fire has been extinguished and about 25 firefighters in splashsuits were now checking for hazardous substances - which were commonly used in that part of the port, Fire Service shift manager Murray Dunbar said.

There were five fire trucks and 27 firefighters working to clear that part of the port but there would be no impact on the public as the explosion happened in a secure area, Mr Dunbar told NZPA.

The container was being fumigated and that was probably why the loud explosion, which shook the police building, happened, Inspector Mike Coleman said.

It was not clear who owned the container.

Mr Dunbar said not everyone who worked at the port had been accounted for but there did not appear to be any injuries.

- NZPA