Explosive Containers Alert At Major US Port
A major US port has been closed and evacuated after nine containers of "highly explosive material" were accidentally punctured.Emergency services have sealed off the area in North Carolina's Morehead City Port after a dangerous substance - PETN - had spilled from drums onto the port property.
"I can confirm it is PETN (Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate) and it is explosive," Morehead City mayor Jerry Jones told CNN.
A police spokeswoman said military, police and fire officials were at the scene and calls for an evacuation had also been issued for Morehead City's downtown area.
"As a precaution, they have evacuated the port area ... everything indicates this was by accident," she added.
Those who remained were being asked to stay away from windows and doors, according to local media.
North Carolina's Morehead City Port is one of the deepest on the US East Coast.
It is a major import point for rubber and other commodities, including chemicals.