By Oluwakemi Kindness
Firefighters are battling a massive fire at Libya’s Zawiya refinery after a series of suspected drone attacks on the facility.
The National Oil Corporation (NOC) warned that continued attacks could force it to declare a force majeure and shut down operations.
Libya’s Ambulance and Emergency Service on Tuesday said there are no serious injuries from the latest blaze.
Most of those treated suffered from smoke inhalation, the service said.
Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed huge flames and thick black smoke rising over the refinery, located about 40km west of Tripoli.
The Zawiya refinery is Libya’s largest operating refinery, with a capacity of about 120,000 barrels per day.
The NOC said the fire broke out on Monday evening at tank 402-T, operated by the Brega Oil Company.
According to the state oil company, the tank contained about 4.5 million litres of gasoline when it was directly hit by a drone.
The attack triggered a severe fire before the tank eventually collapsed, the NOC said.
The company said the latest attack followed drone strikes on a water desalination plant at the refinery on Sunday and a naphtha reservoir on Saturday.
The NOC declared a “maximum emergency” in the region and called on authorities to investigate the attacks and bring those responsible to justice.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, and the NOC has not identified those behind them.
