AP Moller-Maersk, one of the world’s largest shipping companies, said in a statement that the fire had broken out among containers at the port of Iskenderun on the Mediterranean Sea, about 96km southwest of the quake’s epicentre.

“At this time, the fire is yet to be controlled fully by local authorities on the ground,” the Danish company said.

On top of the humanitarian crisis in the region, as thousands of rescuers try to pull people from rubble, the earthquake has caused major supply chain disruptions, making it difficult to get the necessary supplies to people who need them.

Maersk, which is based in Copenhagen, said on Monday that it had halted all operations at the port because of damage caused by the earthquake. Roads in the area were so heavily damaged that vendors have been unable to move any trucks in and around the area, the advisory said.

Maersk said it was diverting containers bound for the Port of Iskenderun to nearby hubs, including the Port of Mersin and Port Said. It was unclear how long recovery efforts would take or even the extent of the damage.

Sergey Ponomarev, a photographer for The Times in Iskenderun, said he saw a plume of smoke rising from the containers in the port.