DUBAI, March 27: More than 20 people were killed and about 150 hurt on Wednesday when a gate collapsed at a dry dock in Dubai, flooding a busy work area within minutes.

Officials at the state-owned drydocks said the casualty figures might rise as divers began rescue operations after the incident, which took place at 9.30am (10.30am PST).

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 a few minutes, drowning many people. It was a horrible sight,” a witness said.

“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.

“I saw the bodies of 13 dead people,” another witness said outside the facility, which was shut down by authorities.

A security official said earlier that about 150 had been taken to hospitals.—Reuters