Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – A massive fire broke out late on Monday at a major fuel storage facility near Sulaymaniyah in northern Iraq’s Kurdistan region, causing injuries to at least 20 people.
The explosion took place just before midnight on Monday, sending dense plumes of smoke and strong flames into the sky.
According to local officials, no deaths have been reported. Approximately 20 people had minor injuries, with some individuals requiring highly specialized medical attention for burns.
The blaze, which was caused by a leak that swiftly ignited, burned more than three million liters of fuel. It also damaged 34 fuel tankers and four gas-oil tankers parked on the site.
The cause of the original leak and subsequent explosions is still under investigation.
Civil defense and emergency personnel fought the fires throughout the nighttime. Shaho Osman, Deputy Governor of Sulaymaniyah, stated that the fire had been successfully brought under control.
Despite the substantial physical damage to the facility, market officials and the warehouse owner do not believe the incident would affect local fuel supplies or cause a jump in gasoline prices.