Zawiya: A fire with thick smoke broke out at a fuel tank in the Zawiya oil depot in western Libya, as reported by the state-owned Brega Petroleum Marketing Company. The incident prompted authorities to declare a "maximum emergency" in the area. The company announced on Facebook that gasoline tank No. 402 was struck under unknown circumstances, resulting in the blaze.
According to Anadolu Agency, firefighting, safety, and emergency teams are actively responding to the fire following approved response plans. Efforts are being made to cool adjacent tanks to prevent the flames from spreading further. The company mentioned that teams are continuously monitoring the situation and assessing the damage, with a promise to provide further updates once confirmed information is available.
Brega Petroleum Marketing Company has issued an urgent appeal to halt hostilities around oil facilities and depots, emphasizing the high flammability of the materials stored there. The company warned of serious risks to residents, workers, and surrounding areas, as well as potential disruptions to fuel supplies, if such facilities are targeted or approached. The company stressed that protecting oil installations is a national responsibility that must not be neglected.
Following the incident, Libya's National Oil Corp. declared a state of "maximum emergency" in the Zawiya area. The corporation reported that Tank 402-T, which contained approximately 4.5 million liters of gasoline, was directly targeted, leading to a major fire and the tank's complete collapse. The potential threat to the facility, nearby oil installations, and surrounding areas heightened the danger of the incident.
Fire and safety teams from the Zawiya refinery, Brega Petroleum Marketing Co., and neighboring oil companies are collaborating to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other facilities. The National Oil Corp. has called for immediate intervention by relevant authorities, urging a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of the attack, identification and apprehension of those responsible, and prosecution under the law.
Zawiya has experienced multiple rounds of armed clashes in recent months, resulting in casualties and damage to vital facilities. The city's strategic and economic significance is underscored by its coastal location, oil refinery, and energy facilities. Security tensions in Zawiya impact transport movement and fuel and energy supplies.
Libya remains divided between two rival governments: the internationally recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, and a government appointed by the House of Representatives in Benghazi, led by Osama Hammad. The UN Support Mission in Libya has been working to broker a political settlement and elections to resolve the political divisions and armed conflict persisting since the 2011 ouster of Muammar Gaddafi.