Fire at Libya's Zawiya oil depot, state firm says tank 'directly targeted'

A fire erupted in a diesel tank at Libya's Zawiya oil depot on Monday, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky, according to the Brega Petroleum Marketing Company.

The cause of the blaze remains unknown, but the state oil firm, National Oil Corporation (NOC), declared an extreme state of emergency in the area, stating that the tank, estimated to hold 4.5 million liters of gasoline, "was directly targeted."

NOC has called for an immediate intervention and investigation by competent authorities. Unverified footage circulating online shows large flames engulfing the area. Despite the incident, refinery engineers confirmed that the Zawiya refinery, the country's largest with a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day, continues to operate without suspension.

This is the second incident at the Zawiya refinery in recent days. Two days earlier, a drone crashed into an untreated naphtha tank, causing a leak that staff managed to control. The refinery is connected to the Sharara oilfield, which produces 300,000 barrels per day.

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was directly targeted