The fire, which has now been extinguished, started in a trailer awaiting embarkation at the Poniente Dock. Although the cause has not yet been determined, the flames quickly spread to a total of 20 vehicles, as reported by the Barcelona Fire Department. Port sources confirmed that the affected containers did not contain hazardous materials, as these are handled in a different area.
Emergency services received the alert at 1:17 PM on Sunday, at which point three trailers were already ablaze. The fire was brought under control around 4:00 PM and was completely extinguished by 7:45 PM. During the extinguishing efforts, the Barcelona Fire Department maintained close surveillance to prevent the re-ignition of any hot spots.
“"There's never this many people."
The incident caused a temporary disruption of port activity and the closure of dock access by the Port Police, particularly affecting cruise passengers. Many people were unable to board on time, including a family from Valencia and an Argentine tourist from Mar del Plata, Natalia, who had planned a trip along the Italian coast. Traffic resumed around 4:45 PM, except in the directly affected area.
During the emergency, the bar El Morrot, usually frequented by port workers, filled with people awaiting news about the resumption of activity. Tension and impatience were palpable among those affected, who reacted with disappointment when a police officer entered, only to ask for a coffee.
