ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A fire triggered by the explosion of an air compressor at Iraq’s Baiji oil refinery in northern Salahaddin province killed one person and injured 13 others on Monday, local officials said.
“The fire broke out in the gasoline-enhancing unit at the [Salahaddin 2] refinery. According to preliminary information, one person lost their life and 13 other people were injured,” Firas Dawood, Salahaddin police media director, told Rudaw.
Yassin al-Dawoodi, a member of the Salahaddin provincial council, said the incident was caused by “the explosion of an air compressor” inside the unit. He added that all those injured are refinery employees and were transferred to a local hospital for treatment.
Raed al-Jabouri, director of the Salahaddin health directorate, told Rudaw that all rapid response teams and health personnel have been placed on standby.