Authorities on Tuesday started work to recover shipping containers, which fell into the harbor after two cargo ships collided in Karachi Port.

According to Geo TV, containers have been identified and two cranes from the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) are busy recovering them. 

Officials expect the operation to last for between two and three days. Twenty one containers in total fell overboard, GEO TV reports.

Video footage from social media clearly shows the ships colliding in the harbor and containers tumbling into the water. 

A number of containers on board the one ship have also clearly been destroyed.  

Pakistan Navy divers are also assisting in the operation.

The South Asia Port Terminal (SAPT) will open for traffic once the 21 containers, which were carrying imported cars and freight worth millions of rupees, have been recovered.

Officials said the cargo ships have been docked at Karachi Port as they will need repairs following the collision. 

GEO TV reported that on Monday, Hapag-Lloyd's 8,000-TEU Tolten collided with the 6,350-TEU Hamburg Bay at South Asia Port Terminal, one of South Asia's busiest seaports.

Officials said operations at the SAPT, which were suspended after the accident, will resume after the containers are removed from the sea through a special operation by the Karachi Port Trust.