Full Breakdown
Fire Engulfs Fuel Depot Near Sulaimaniyah
8/18/2026, 8:05:34 AM
Fire Engulfs Fuel Depot Near Sulaimaniyah
A large blaze erupted just before midnight on Monday at a fuel storage warehouse in the Tanjaro area, one of the main supply sites for the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. Verified footage shows flames and thick smoke rising over the city of Sulaimaniyah. Emergency crews and security forces responded quickly, and several explosions were reported as the fire spread through the facility. Civil-defence teams from Sulaimaniyah led the firefighting effort, while counterparts in Erbil remained on standby.
Casualties and Material Losses
Hersh Saeed Saleem, deputy director general of Sulaimaniyah, told Rudaw Media Network that no fatalities occurred but roughly 20 people were injured, all with minor injuries. Shafaq News separately reported two burn cases, one of which required hospital treatment. The same outlet, citing a local source, said the fire destroyed 34 petrol tankers and four gas-oil tankers, consuming more than 3 million litres of fuel.
Official Responses
Shaho Osman, deputy governor of Sulaimaniyah, announced that the fire had been brought under control. Ramyar Rizgar, spokesperson for the Sulaimaniyah fuel market, and Sheikh Abdullah, the warehouse owner, indicated that they do not expect the incident to raise petrol prices in the region. Authorities have not yet released a full damage assessment for the site.
Potential Regional Impact
The depot is a key fuel hub for the province, and the loss of dozens of tankers represents a significant reduction in local fuel reserves. While officials currently anticipate no immediate price increase, the destruction of over 3 million litres could affect supply dynamics if replacement stocks are not secured promptly. The cause of the fire remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing.
