Crews facing 'very challenging' blaze at scrap metal facility

More than 50 firefighters worked through the night to bring a blaze at a scrap metal recycling facility under control.

The fire at Clearway Disposals in Belfast's dock area was reported shortly after midday on Wednesday.

Large plumes of black smoke surrounded the area, forcing a cruise ship to leave early.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) area commander David Harbison said the operation was "very challenging".

The site on East Twin Road contains about 4,500 tonnes of loose metal and cars.

"We're trying to break up the parts of scrap metal with heavy onsite machinery and firefighters are then using jets, a ground monitor and a high-reach aerial appliance to extinguish the fire," Harbison told BBC News NI.

He said there had been two high-volume pumps in operation "because we do require an extensive amount of water to deal with this".

Nearby residents and businesses have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed, while people have been asked to avoid the area.

"If you're driving past in a vehicle maybe turn off your air conditioning," Harbison added.

"Equally, stay away from the area, allow your fire service to continue with their operations and be patient with us while we deal with this."

The Viking Sky Cruise ship moved on due to the smoke from the fire.

Belfast Harbour confirmed it departed three hours earlier than planned on Wednesday.

"The decision to depart rested with the captain and cruise operator," they added.

Harbison said the cause of the fire was currently under investigation.

"But it is recognised across the UK and wider across the world that lithium-ion batteries are becoming a challenge for the fire sector so we would suspect that," he added.

On Wednesday, Belfast Harbour Police said it was working closely with NIFRS and staff at the facility.

Another fire broke out at the same Clearway Disposals site in May.