KARACHI, Aug 12: After the collapse of three berths at the Karachi Port due to heavy rain and floods on Friday and Saturday, the Karachi Port Trust suspended unloading at eight berths of East Wharf declaring them dangerous, port-users reveal.

Emergency was declared at the port at around 3am on Friday when two berths (No 14 & 15) on East Wharf collapsed during torrential rains and storm in the sea.

A vessel was discharging steel when the huge concrete structure caved in setting the ship free in rough sea.

Another berth No 10 at East Wharf collapsed at 4am on Saturday when the port staff noticed a big crack in the berth.

A leading ship agent told Dawn that the closure of eight berths would reduce the number of berths to 11 from the present 19, including four shallow draft berths, and the port would face the worst congestion. It would take the KPT at least three years to reconstruct or renovate the berths, he added.

Meanwhile, a KPI official confirmed that three berths had been collapsed during severe rains and storms. He said that some berths had been closed for shipping and a survey would be conducted to ascertain the position of other berths.