Hundreds of firefighters have been mobilized to extinguish a major fire that broke out earlier today at the port of Hamburg, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
Three people were injured, and the extent of the damage remains unknown, emergency services said.
The fire in the Vettel district of the northern German city started in a vehicle parked in a warehouse, a fire department spokesman said.
A cloud of black smoke rose into the sky over Hamburg and small explosions could be heard in the area as police used water cannons to help fight the flames.
It is believed that several pressurized gas containers, possibly containing nitrogen oxide, exploded during the fire, sending debris flying from the building.
Around 25 people were evacuated from the area, including the three injured, spokesman Lorenz Hartmann said. "We managed to get dozens of people out of the area and save them", he added.
It is not yet clear how long it will take to put out the fire.
According to police, the nearby highway between Norderelbe and Moorfleet is completely closed due to debris, with traffic jams of about 12 kilometers.
The port of Hamburg is one of Germany's leading international trade centers, according to its official website.