SEATTLE (Oil Monster): An explosion at Turkiye's largest oil refinery triggered a major fire Thursday evening, forcing the evacuation of workers as emergency crews battled the blaze at the facility in Kocaeli province.
The blast occurred at a gasoline tank at the TUPRAS Izmit Rafinerisi in the early evening hours, rapidly spreading into a large fire that caused panic at the sprawling industrial complex. Emergency response teams were still working to contain the flames as of late Thursday, while all refinery workers were evacuated as a precautionary measure.
The cause of the explosion remains undetermined, and authorities have not released information about potential casualties or the extent of damage to the facility.
Located in northwestern Turkiye, the Izmit refinery processes imported crude oil delivered by tanker from global markets. The facility employs 1,923 personnel and maintains storage capacity of 3.03 million tons, according to company data.
Courtesy: www.turkiyetoday.com
