Erbil, Kurdistan Region – Three individuals sustained severe injuries following a fire at a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plant on the Erbil-Kirkuk road on Thursday evening. The incident, reported at approximately 8:00 pm, was confirmed by Shakhawan Saeed, the spokesperson for the Erbil civil defense.

The victims include a driver and two guards, who were all severely injured in the blaze. Saeed attributed the fire to a gas leak, which resulted in the explosion of a tank at the facility.

This incident underscores the ongoing issues with fire safety in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, where substandard safety measures and frequent electrical faults contribute to a high incidence of fires.

Earlier this month, Erbil witnessed another significant fire at the Qaysari Bazaar, which led to the destruction of 227 shops and seven storage units. Over 100 people were injured in that blaze, as reported by the Erbil governor's office. This marked the second major fire in Erbil within a month, following a devastating fire at the Langa Bazaar in April that ravaged the textile and clothing section, causing millions of dollars in damages. The Langa Bazaar had also caught fire in late February.

The frequency of these incidents highlights the urgent need for improved safety standards and preventive measures to protect both lives and property in the region.