Libya’s NOC Declares Emergency After Fuel Tank Hit and Collapses in Zawiya

Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) declared a state of emergency after a major gasoline storage tank operated by Brega Petroleum Marketing Company was targeted in Zawiya, triggering a fire before the tank completely collapsed.

The tank contained about 4.5 million litres of gasoline, according to the NOC. The corporation said the incident created an immediate danger to the affected facility, nearby oil installations and surrounding areas.

Emergency Teams Work to Contain Fire

Firefighting, safety and emergency crews were deployed to the site as efforts focused on bringing the blaze under control and cooling neighbouring storage tanks to prevent the fire from spreading.

Brega Petroleum Marketing Company said the fire began after the tank was damaged, while the precise circumstances behind the incident remained under investigation.

NOC Calls for Investigation

The National Oil Corporation called for urgent intervention and a comprehensive investigation into the incident. It also urged authorities to identify those responsible and take legal action against them.

Concerns Over Zawiya Oil Facilities

The incident adds to security concerns surrounding energy infrastructure in Zawiya. Separate reports on Tuesday said the NOC warned that continued attacks on oil assets in the area could threaten operations at the Zawiya refinery.

Authorities continued assessing the extent of the damage as emergency teams worked to secure the site and protect nearby facilities.