A massive fire at the Tanjero fuel depot in Sulaimani injured 41 people early Tuesday morning. The violent blaze ignited multiple storage units before dawn and triggered several loud explosions from fuel tanks. Furthermore, heavy smoke quickly rose over surrounding districts, causing widespread alarm among local residents. Civil defense crews immediately mobilized to establish secure perimeters and manage the industrial emergency. Consequently, emergency medical teams treated dozens of workers for injuries and severe smoke inhalation.
Emergency responders arrived rapidly from multiple municipal stations to contain the spreading industrial fire. Civil defense personnel deployed specialized firefighting tactics to isolate burning fuel tanks from nearby properties. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies closed surrounding roads to ensure unhindered access for emergency response vehicles. Deputy Governor Shaho Osman coordinated emergency operations alongside local security forces and health service departments. Additionally, health authorities confirmed that medical personnel treated 40 patients and hospitalized one critically injured worker.
Initial reports indicate that the private storage facility contained 34 large fuel tanks holding strategic reserves. Specifically, the depot stored approximately 3.2 million liters of petrol and diesel fuel. Witnesses reported that a portable fuel container accidentally ignited during routine manual transfer procedures. However, fuel market representatives suggested that an electrical short circuit may have caused the initial fire. Therefore, regional authorities appointed a specialized investigative committee to formally determine the exact cause.
Despite significant damage to private property, officials confirmed that local fuel supplies remain stable. Fuel market spokesperson Ramyar Rizgar emphasized that subsidized fuel distribution continues normally across all stations. Furthermore, government authorities reassured motorists that state-funded petrol operations would face no operational delays. Civil defense officials in neighboring Erbil remain on standby with heavy equipment to assist with final site clearance. Ultimately, industrial safety regulators plan comprehensive policy reviews to prevent similar disasters at fuel storage facilities.