IRAQ – Fire at Zubair 1 Oil Field Leaves One Dead and Four Injured
A fire early Sunday morning at the main turbine site of the Zubair 1 oil field in Basra’s Burjesia area claimed the life of the warehouse division chief and left four others injured, including two in critical condition, according to the Basra Civil Defense Directorate and the Ministry of Oil.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:15 a.m. on October 26, 2025, when a gas leak was reported in an old pumping system within the Zubair 1 storage facility. The leak triggered a sudden turbine explosion, sparking a blaze at the sensitive site responsible for exporting crude oil through Basra’s network.
Basra Civil Defense head Mazen Mohammed explained that firefighting teams “continue to work to fully control the blaze,” emphasizing the need for caution to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby units. Crews from the Basra Oil Company, the governorate, and supporting agencies managed to achieve partial containment while efforts to completely extinguish the fire were still underway.
Among the victims was Rathi Abdul Sahib, the warehouse division chief, who reportedly rushed to the site after receiving a report of a leak. According to field worker Ahmed Haitham, Abdul Sahib was on the phone with civil defense teams when the explosion occurred, suffering fatal burns and suffocation. Several other employees sustained minor injuries and were treated at company clinics.
In an official statement, the Ministry of Oil confirmed that the incident resulted in one fatality and four injuries. It noted that “such incidents require time to achieve full control and complete extinguishment,” adding that further updates would be provided as more information becomes available.
The ministry extended its condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the injured a swift recovery, while expressing appreciation for the rapid response of emergency and firefighting teams.
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