Massive Fire Erupts at Tanjero Fuel Depot in Sulaimani

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - A massive fire erupted at a fuel depot in the Tanjero sub-district of Sulaimani early Tuesday, triggering multiple explosions, injuring 41 people and prompting a large-scale emergency response, authorities and health officials said.

The blaze broke out at the facility shortly before dawn, sending flames and a thick column of smoke over parts of Sulaimani Province. Explosions from fuel storage tanks and transport vehicles could be heard across surrounding areas, with the fire visible from Sulaimani city as well as Chamchamal and Penjwen.

Sulaimani Civil Defense warned residents to stay away from the area because of the continuing risk of further explosions. "We urge citizens to stay away from the Tanjero area, as there is a risk of further tank explosions," the directorate told Kurdistan24.

Civil defense spokesperson Aram Ali said additional firefighting units had been dispatched because of the size and danger of the blaze. Teams worked from several directions to contain the fire and prevent it from reaching nearby gas stations, warehouses and other facilities.

At least 41 people were injured or affected by smoke inhalation, with one in critical condition, according to a source at the Sulaimani General Directorate of Health. Most injuries were described as minor, with emergency personnel treating people at the scene and in ambulances. No deaths were reported.

Saman Nader, director of the Sulaimani Rapid Emergency Response Center (122), said ambulances and rescue teams reached the site to provide immediate medical assistance to workers and others affected by the incident.

Shaho Osman, deputy governor of Sulaimani, said civil defense, Asayish, emergency police, traffic police and health teams had all been placed on high alert. He said security forces established a perimeter around the site and successfully prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent warehouses and factories.

Osman said a specialized investigative committee would be formed after the blaze is completely extinguished to determine the cause and assess the material damage.

Initial accounts regarding the cause remain conflicting.

Eyewitnesses told Kurdistan24 that the incident began when an individual was carrying a bucket of petrol, resulting in minor burns before the fire spread rapidly.

Ramyar Rizgar, spokesperson for the Sulaimani fuel market, meanwhile, said preliminary information pointed to a possible electrical short circuit or technical error during the unloading or transfer of petrol. The cause has not yet been officially determined.

The Tanjero facility is a major private fuel storage site comprising 34 large tanks, 30 of which contained petrol. The depot held approximately 3.2 million liters of petrol and diesel, making the incident potentially significant for local fuel distribution.

Despite the scale of the fire, fuel-market officials said there was no immediate threat of a petrol shortage. Rizgar stressed that the depot is privately owned and is not a strategic government facility.

"The distribution of 750-dinar government-subsidized petrol by the Ministry of Natural Resources is continuing 24 hours a day at gas stations, and this incident will not cause a petrol shortage crisis in Sulaimani," Rizgar told Kurdistan24.

The incident comes as the Kurdistan Regional Government has recently expanded the distribution of government-subsidized petrol at 750 Iraqi dinars per liter to address shortages and price pressures. Authorities have therefore sought to reassure motorists that the Tanjero fire will not interrupt that program.

Erbil Civil Defense also offered assistance. Its spokesperson, Shakhawan Saeed, said specialized firefighting vehicles and equipment designed for fuel-related fires were standing by.

"Whenever the General Directorate requests our civil defense teams to assist Sulaimani, we are fully prepared to help," Saeed said, adding that rescue teams and specialized equipment were ready for deployment.

Authorities urged residents not to approach the site to watch the operation, warning that crowds and traffic could obstruct firefighting vehicles and ambulances.

The successful containment of the blaze prevented it from spreading beyond the depot, but the incident has raised renewed attention to safety procedures at large fuel-storage facilities, particularly during periods of high temperatures.

With the fire brought under control, authorities are expected to focus on determining how it started, whether safety procedures were followed and the extent of damage to the depot and surrounding properties.