Zawiya: A fire with thick smoke erupted at a fuel tank in the Zawiya oil depot in western Libya, as reported by the state-owned Brega Petroleum Marketing Company. The incident has led authorities to declare a "maximum emergency" in the area.
According to Anadolu Agency, the company revealed through a Facebook statement that gasoline tank No. 402 was impacted under unknown circumstances. Firefighting, safety, and emergency teams have been deployed to manage the blaze using approved response strategies while cooling adjacent tanks to prevent the flames from spreading. The company is closely monitoring the situation, promising updates once further information is verified.
In its statement, the company urged all parties to cease hostilities and avoid oil facilities and depots due to the presence of highly flammable materials. It emphasized the serious risks to residents, workers, and nearby areas, as well as potential disruptions to fuel supplies. The company reiterated that oil installations are vital to all Libyans and that protecting them is a national duty.
No casualties have been reported by the company. However, Libya's National Oil Corp. confirmed that a state of "maximum emergency" has been declared in Zawiya after gasoline tank 402-T, owned by Brega Petroleum Marketing Co., was directly targeted. The tank, containing approximately 4.5 million liters of gasoline, collapsed completely due to the fire, posing significant threats to nearby facilities and areas.
Fire and safety teams from Zawiya refinery, Brega Petroleum Marketing Co., and neighboring oil companies are collaborating to contain the fire and prevent its spread. The National Oil Corp. has called for immediate intervention and a comprehensive investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible for the attack.
Zawiya has recently experienced several rounds of armed clashes, resulting in casualties and damage to vital facilities. The city is strategically and economically significant due to its coastal location, oil refinery, and energy facilities, and any security tension impacts transport and fuel 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, headed by Osama Hammad. The UN Support Mission in Libya continues efforts to mediate a political settlement leading to elections, which many Libyans hope will resolve the ongoing political divisions and armed conflict since the 2011 ousting of Muammar Gaddafi.