Watch: Fire breaks out at Iran's oldest oil refinery; worker dead
The incident took place in Unit 70 of the refinery, one of the oldest in Iran. SHANA said, 'According to initial technical probes, the cause of the fire was a leak in one of the pumps, and no evidence of sabotage or human intervention has been observed so far.'
Iranian state media on Saturday released videos showing thick smoke rising from the Abadan oil refinery, after local reports said a fire had broken out at the site.
Officials said the blaze started in Unit 75 and that firefighting teams were working to bring it under control. pic.twitter.com/WmeYhmXE0u
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) July 19, 2025
Firefighters from Abadan and nearby areas responded to the blaze. State TV confirmed that the fire had been brought under control and said there was no impact on operations.
Videos shared by local news outlets showed flames and thick smoke rising from part of the refinery, located in Khuzestan Province in the southwest of the country, where temperatures are close to 50°C (122°F).
🚨Oil refining facilities in Shustar (Ahvaz Province, Southern Iran) have caught fire. There are dead and wounded on the scene, and regime channels are claiming that this was a technical fault. Israeli media says the circumstances are unclear but not thought to be a strike. pic.twitter.com/QrqhufEvIf
— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) October 15, 2024
The Abadan facility is Iran's oldest crude oil refinery. Like many of Iran's oil and gas sites, it requires major repair and maintenance work.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
World News Live Updates: North Korea rejects diplomatic overtures from South Korea
Live now Last Updated: From geopolitics to climate, tech to social change, News18 World live blog delivers real-time updates on what is the latest from around the globe News18 Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST Scientists warn of enduring toxic legacy from 2021 Sri Lanka ship disaster The environmental fallout from the 2021 X-Press Pearl cargo ship disaster off Sri Lanka has a far more enduring and toxic legacy than initially assessed, with scientists now confirming persistent and widespread contamination, BBC says in a report. The primary pollutants are billions of pre-production plastic pellets, known as nurdles, and hazardous chemicals which continue to degrade into microplastics. This ongoing contamination poses a significant long-term threat to marine ecosystems and biodiversity, severely impacting the livelihoods of local fishing communities through reduced and contaminated fish stocks. The disaster has also created a substantial economic burden for Sri Lanka, which is still pursuing full compensation for cleanup and damages through complex legal proceedings, while the incident prompts calls for stricter international maritime regulations on transporting hazardous materials. Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST Israeli strikes in Gaza reportedly kill 63 amid deepening hunger crisis Israeli military strikes in Gaza have reportedly killed 63 people, with attacks occurring even in designated 'safe zones' despite declared tactical 'pauses' in fighting, according to a report in Al Jazeera. The humanitarian situation continues to worsen, as health officials in Gaza reported that six more Palestinians, including two children, have died from malnutrition and dehydration. These events compound a severe and deepening hunger crisis that humanitarian agencies have warned is pushing the population toward famine. Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST Green algae proliferation threatens French oyster industry A significant proliferation of green algae in Brittany's Morlaix Bay is posing a direct threat to the local oyster industry, according to a report in France 24. The algal blooms, primarily fed by farm waste and nitrogen fertilizers from the region's intensive agriculture, are creating adverse conditions for oyster farming. This long-standing environmental issue, which also impacts local tourism and public health, is reportedly being exacerbated by the effects of global warming, threatening the economic livelihoods of France's oyster farmers. Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST Google acknowledges its earthquake alert system failed to warn millions in Turkey Google's Android Earthquake Alerts System (AEAS) sent only 469 serious warnings ahead of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey, failing to alert millions of people, BBC says in a report. While the system detected the quake, Google acknowledged its performance was limited by the event's depth and complex rupture, which hindered its ability to assess the magnitude in real-time and issue critical 'take action' alerts on a mass scale. The incident has prompted Google to review its system's algorithms and has raised significant questions about the reliability of AI-driven public safety systems. This failure underscores the need for multi-layered disaster preparedness strategies that combine supplementary tech solutions with traditional government-operated seismic networks and may impact public trust in smartphone-based warning systems. Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST US and EU announce new trade framework The United States and the European Union have announced a new trade framework from Edinburgh, Scotland, as per a report in AP. The report did not include specific provisions or details of the agreement. Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST Deadline passes on CK Hutchison's US$23 billion global ports sale The deadline for exclusive negotiations regarding CK Hutchison Holdings' US$23 billion sale of stakes in 43 global ports to a consortium led by Terminal Investment Limited (TIL) passed without an agreement on Sunday, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The complex transaction, which includes strategically vital ports at both ends of the Panama Canal, is reportedly being complicated by intense US-China geopolitical rivalry. Analysts expect that the talks will be extended, as the deal faces scrutiny due to US national security concerns over foreign influence in critical infrastructure, despite the buyer, TIL, being an affiliate of the Swiss-Italian Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST China designates 'drone flight planner' as official profession amid economic push China has officially recognized 'drone flight planner' as a new profession to address a talent shortage in its rapidly growing low-altitude economy, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and is part of a larger government strategy to develop the low-altitude sector as a new engine for economic growth. This new designation is one of 17 new occupations announced, which also include roles like cross-border e-commerce operation manager, signaling a shift in labor market demands toward high-tech and specialized skills. Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST US and China reportedly planning autumn visit for President Trump US President Donald Trump is reportedly keen to visit China in the autumn of 2025, with officials working to arrange a trip for October or November, the South China Morning Post said in a report. While hurdles remain in the bilateral relationship, high-level officials from both Washington and Beijing are said to share a consensus on the need for the visit. The report clarifies that a potential trip in September to attend a parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II will not be happening. Jul 28, 2025 09:03 IST Alibaba enters AI smart glasses race with Quark preview Alibaba Group Holding has entered the competitive smart glasses market by previewing its first AI-powered device, the Quark AI glasses, at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, South China Morning Post said in a report. Named after the company's AI assistant, the glasses' development is complete, with an official launch planned for later this year. The move places Alibaba in direct competition with global tech giants like Apple, Meta, and Google, as well as domestic rivals such as Huawei and Xiaomi, in the growing market for smart wearables and edge AI devices. The unveiling at China's largest annual AI event highlights the country's strategic push for leadership in artificial intelligence and its application in consumer technology.
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
3 killed, others injured after 2 coaches of passenger train derail in Germany
At least three people have died and several others have been injured after a regional passenger train derailed in southern Germany on Sunday, according to police. Emergency personnel work at the site where a local train derailed causing the death of several passengers, in Riedlingen near Biberach, Germany, July 27, 2025. (REUTERS) The accident happened on Sunday evening at around 6.10 pm (local time) on Sunday near the town of Riedlingen in Baden-Wuerttemberg state with as many as 100 passengers onboard the train, reported news agency AFP. The number of passengers who have been injured is not yet confirmed. According to Germany rail operator Deutsche Bahn, two carriages of the train derailed for reasons not yet known. The authorities are probing the incident. 'Near #Riedlingen, a regional train traveling from Sigmaringen to Ulm derailed today for unknown reasons. The exact situation is still unclear at this time. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the victims and everyone who now has to process this experience. More information will follow,' it wrote in a post on X. Landslide could have caused accident The local media reported that the area was hit by a severe storm previously. The authorities are probing whether the extreme weather conditions caused a landslide which could have caused the accident. "There was heavy rainfall here, so it cannot be ruled out that the heavy rain and the associated landslide were also the cause," German news outlet Bild quoted Baden-Württemberg's Interior Minister Thomas Strobl as saying. The train was going from Sigmaringen town to the city of Ulm in Germany when two of its coaches derailed in the middle of a forest. Visuals from the spot show yellow and grey coloured derailed coaches of the train turned to their sides as emergency personnel and rescuers climbed atop them. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz mourned the deaths of the victims of the accident and expressed condolences to their families. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote in German, 'The train accident in the Biberach district shocks me. I am in close contact with the Interior Minister and the Transport Minister and have asked them to support the rescue forces with all available means. We mourn the victims. I express my condolences to their relatives.' With AFP inputs.
Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Indian Express
Israel allows humanitarian aid to enter Gaza but will that be enough to tackle mass starvation?
Amid growing international condemnation and warnings of starvation, Israel has announced it will allow humanitarian aid convoys into the Gaza Strip, pausing military activity in certain areas and opening new corridors to facilitate delivery. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said the 'tactical pause' will be observed daily in parts of Al Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City, with designated 'secure routes' for aid trucks. UNICEF and the World Food Programme have welcomed the move, with UNICEF calling it 'an opportunity to begin to reverse this catastrophe and save lives.' But both organisations stressed the need for more: not just pauses in fighting, but additional humanitarian corridors and safe, sustained access for both aid and commercial deliveries. For months, Gaza's 2 million people have faced a near-total blockade on food, water, medicine, and electricity. Border closures and continuous airstrikes have left shelves empty, hospitals overwhelmed, and families struggling to survive. It has been under a tight Israeli-Egyptian blockade since 2007, after Hamas took control of the territory. The pause in military action follows airdrops of food supplies, including one by Israel delivering seven packages of flour, sugar, and canned food, and a joint Jordan-UAE operation parachuting 25 tonnes of aid. Jordan alone says it has carried out 127 such missions since the war began. Photographs on Sunday showed lorries queuing at Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt, a critical chokepoint where most land-based aid is held up. But for many Palestinians, the help has come too little, too late. 'Of course I feel a bit of hope again, but also worried that starvation would continue once the pause is over,' said Rasha Al-Sheikh Khalil, a mother of four in Gaza City, speaking to the BBC. 'One convoy of aid or a few air drop packages won't be enough. We need a real solution, an end to this nightmare, an end to the war.' Another resident, Neveen Saleh, told the BBC, 'this isn't just about quantity of food, it's about quality. We haven't eaten a single fresh fruit or vegetable in four months. There's no chicken, no meat, no eggs. All we have are canned foods that are often expired and flour.' Former UNRWA spokesperson Chris Gunness said the so-called 'tactical pauses' were not enough. 'Gaza's land borders must immediately be opened 24/7, making these undignified airdrops unnecessary,' he told Al Jazeera. 'Let's not forget that over 100 people have been starved to death by Israel. Netanyahu must face international justice for the crime of starvation.' Oxfam's policy lead for Gaza, Bushra Khalidi, echoed those concerns, saying, 'deadly airdrops and a trickle of trucks won't undo months of engineered starvation… What's needed is the immediate opening of all crossings for full, unhindered, and safe aid delivery across all of Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.' Israel, which controls Gaza's borders and airspace, had completely halted aid entry between March and May. It later established a controversial system requiring people to walk to militarised aid hubs, locations that the UN has described as 'death traps,' saying that over 1,000 Palestinians were killed trying to access food. Despite accusations from rights groups and UN officials that it was using starvation as a weapon of war, Israel denies any wrongdoing. It says the distribution responsibility lies with international agencies and that the new restrictions were designed to prevent aid from being diverted to Hamas. The World Health Organization's director, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the situation as 'man-made mass starvation.' On Sunday, the Hamas-run health ministry said six more people had died from malnutrition, bringing the total to 133—most in recent weeks. As part of the new measures, Israel has approved a clean water pipeline from a desalination plant in Egypt to Gaza's Al Mawasi region, intended to serve 600,000 residents independently of Israel's own water systems. A power line to a Gaza desalination plant has also been restored. But even as aid trickles in, violence continues. On Sunday, nine Palestinians were reportedly killed and 54 injured by Israeli gunfire while trying to reach an aid convoy route in central Gaza. Whether these steps will bring lasting relief remains uncertain. For now, aid workers and residents alike brace for the limited window of help.
