Lebanon's civil defense teams succeeded in controlling around 70 percent of the massive fire that erupted in Beirut's port earlier on Thursday, local TV channel al-Jadeed reported.

Helicopters belonging to the Lebanese army assisted civil defense teams in extinguishing the fire.

The fire raised new panic among residents still struggling with the traumatic effects of the catastrophic explosions last month at the same site.

Some sought safety in closed bathrooms or threw open their windows to guard against shattering glass in case of another blast; others piled into cars to flee the capital. No injuries were reported.

The massive fire that broke out at Beirut's port comes from a warehouse that contains oil and tire deposits.

Port director Bassem al-Qaisi told Voice of Lebanon radio that the fire started in a warehouse containing barrels of cooking oil and later spread to where tires were piled. He added it was too early to say if it began as "the result of heat or some other mistake."

Director General of the Civil Defense General Raymond Khattar announced that the fire was taking time to be extinguished because of the type of tires that were burnt at the port.

A massive fire erupted at port of Beirut earlier on Thursday, which is the second huge fire that took place following the fire that caused two huge explosions at the port on August 4, destroying a big part of the city while killing around 190 people and wounding at least 6,000 others.

Many Lebanese are frustrated that they have yet to be told about any initial findings from an investigation into last month's port explosions.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun said at a meeting of the Supreme Defence Council about the blaze that the fire could have been the result of sabotage, technical error or negligence, and the cause had to be uncovered quickly.

(With input from agencies)