A serious oil facility in Bahrain got here below assault on Sunday, with dramatic visuals circulating on-line displaying an enormous fireplace tearing by a storage tank at one of many nation’s key refineries.
A number of purported movies from the incident surfaced on social media. One clip, shared by Iranian state media, seems to point out the precise second of the strike. Monitor US-Iran conflict stay updates.
Within the footage, an aerial object may be seen descending quickly earlier than affect. Inside seconds, an enormous fireball erupts, engulfing a part of the refinery’s storage infrastructure.
One other video, shared by RT Information, exhibits thick black smoke billowing into the sky as flames rage within the background, indicating the dimensions of the blaze. HT couldn’t independently confirm the authenticity of the movies.
Tank fireplace reported, no accidents, says firm
In an official assertion, Bapco Energies confirmed that certainly one of its storage tanks caught fireplace following what it mentioned was an Iranian assault.
The corporate mentioned emergency response groups acted swiftly. “The hearth has been extinguished and harm is being assessed,” the assertion famous, including that there have been no accidents reported, reported information company Reuters.
It additionally mentioned response groups labored “in shut coordination with authorities” to convey the state of affairs below management.
Strategic facility hit amid rising tensions
The refinery, operated by Bapco Energies, is a cornerstone of Bahrain’s financial system, with a processing capability of round 400,000 barrels per day.
This isn’t the primary such incident. The ability was beforehand focused final month, when operations had been impacted and power majeure was declared.
The event comes amid heightened regional tensions within the Center East after US-Israeli strikes killing Iran Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sparked hostilities.
