Suez Canal Blocked As Dust Storm Causes Container Ship To Run Aground

The Suez Canal in Egypt has been closed down after a massive container ship turned sideways and got stuck in the middle of a dust storm. Wind gusts of over 30 mph kicked up the dust, making it almost impossible for the ship's crew to navigate the canal.

As the ship, named the Ever Given, tried to make its way through the canal, the dust storm knocked the 220,000-metric ton, 1,312-foot vessel sideways, causing it to run aground and preventing any other ships from passing. The Panama-flagged container ship was en route to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, from China.

Officials said that nobody was injured, and none of the cargo fell off the ship.

A photo taken from another boat was posted on Instagram and showed the container ship blocking the entire length of the Suez Canal.

"Ship in front of us ran aground while going through the canal and is now stuck sideways looks like we might be here for a little bit..."

Tug boats made several attempts to free the Ever Given but have failed.

With the Suez Canal closed for over 24 hours, officials were forced to divert shipping traffic to an older channel. While that has helped, over 100 shipping vessels are waiting to pass through the canal, which usually sees 50 ships travel through it each day. It is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, and roughly 12% of world trade passes through it every year.

The closure will cause shipping delays, as the alternative route adds about a week to the journey.

Photo: Getty Images