More than 20 people were killed and about 150 hurt today when a gate collapsed at a dry dock in Dubai, flooding a busy work area within minutes.
The accident at Dubai Drydocks, one of the world's biggest shipping repair facilities, was one of the worst to hit the emirate, a regional trade and tourism hub in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates.
Officials at the state-owned Dubai Drydocks said the casualty figures might rise as divers began rescue operations after the incident.
A shipping source said there were about 500 workers and four ships inside the facility's middle dock when the gate broke. He said the gate had been undergoing repairs since Monday.
"The gate collapsed and seawater rushed in filling the dock in few minutes, drowning many people. It was a horrible sight," a witness told Reuters by telephone.
"Just before the incident, I saw many workers on the ground repairing some ships. The ships floated and started colliding with each other," the witness said.
Some 3,500 people work at the facility, which was inaugurated in 1983. With a depth of 35 feet, it can accommodate oil supertankers.