ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least two loud explosions were heard in Sulaimani on Tuesday, a Rudaw reporter in the Kurdistan Region’s eastern province relayed, noting that a large fire and thick smoke were also seen rising near its provincial headquarters.
Video obtained by Rudaw showed flames rising in what appeared to be a heavily urban area, with dense black smoke.
Rudaw correspondent Peshawa Bakhtyar in Sulaimani reported that an oil tanker truck caught fire near the provincial building.
Lieutenant Colonel Aram Ali, spokesperson for the Sulaimani Civil Defense Directorate, told Rudaw that “a gas station in the province had caught fire and their teams are working to extinguish the blaze.”
Sulaimani Deputy Governor Shaho Osman told Rudaw “the fire broke out during the unloading of fuel from the tanker,” adding that “a short circuit during the process had ignited the blaze.”
"All teams are now working to bring the situation under full control and fortunately there have been no casualties," he added.
Earlier on Monday, a massive fire broke out at an oil storage facility in Tanjaro, a sub-district south of Sulaimani, injuring 41 people.
Shakhawan Saib, director of Baxshin hospital in the province, told Rudaw that one of those admitted had burns covering 95 percent of his body.
"He is currently undergoing surgery," Saib said, adding that "the rest [of the injured] are in stable condition."
The Kurdistan Region recorded 9,402 fire incidents in 2025, civil defense authorities reported in January, noting that at least two people died due to suffocation.
Last updated at 8:00 pm
