Fire burning for last 14 hours
Fire rages at Erbil refinery, injuring at least 10
ERBIL — A fire at the Majd Iraq Company refinery on the outskirts of Erbil has been burning for more than 14 hours, injuring at least 10 people and destroying six vehicles, officials said Thursday.
The blaze began around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Civil Defense teams responded quickly, with nearly 40 firefighting units arriving shortly after the alarm sounded. Initial efforts focused on controlling the fire, which was exacerbated by explosions at the site.
Due to the intensity of the fire and subsequent explosions, efforts to extinguish the blaze have been complicated, shifting focus to preventing its spread and ensuring the safety of surrounding areas.
Authorities report that more than 10 people have sustained injuries, predominantly among the firefighters. Several others, including emergency responders and civilians, experienced breathing difficulties due to the dense smoke. Medical teams are providing onsite first aid.
The fire also resulted in the destruction of three tanker trucks and three firefighting vehicles. The facility, an oil storage site, holds significant quantities of crude oil. A tanker driver present during the initial outbreak told 964media that each tank stores between 400 and 500 tons of crude oil, though the total number of tanks involved has not been confirmed.
Multiple explosions within the facility have further fueled the fire, periodically forcing firefighters to retreat.
As of 3:00 a.m. Thursday, efforts to contain the fire had ceased, with teams reporting that it was ‘out of control’. By 10:00 a.m., firefighters were preparing to resume their efforts. The smoke has created a thick black cloud over Erbil, visible from the air to those arriving or departing the city.
This incident is the latest in a series of fires that have struck Erbil’s industrial and market areas. In the first four months of 2024, Erbil province reported a total of 220 fires, causing significant financial losses.
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