Fire breaks out after attack on major Libya gasoline tank

A fuel tank with a capacity of 4.5 million liters exploded in the Libyan city of Zawiya, west of the capital Tripoli, on Monday after being directly targeted.

The National Oil Corporation said in a statement that a tank used to store gasoline for vehicles was directly targeted by a drone, causing a major fire before the tank, which contained 4.5 million liters, completely collapsed.

It said firefighting teams were "doing everything in their power" to control the blaze, limit its impact and prevent it from spreading to other facilities and installations.

Libya’s NOC declares a state of maximum emergency in Zawiya following repeated drone attacks on oil facilities, including the Zawiya Refinery and Brega storage tanks. The latest attack caused a major fire and the collapse of a tank holding 4.5 million liters of gasoline.#libya pic.twitter.com/jDG3L4fhTl

— Mahmud Mohammed (@MahmudM27830556) August 10, 2026

The corporation declared a "maximum state of emergency" in the area and called on relevant authorities to intervene "urgently and immediately."

It also called for "a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances and background of these attacks" and efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible and their backers.

No casualties were reported in the explosion.

The corporation strongly condemned the "repeated attacks targeting oil assets and facilities in the city of Zawiya," saying they had escalated dangerously in recent days, threatening the safety of facilities and workers and posing potential risks to surrounding areas and infrastructure.

It said that on Saturday, a tank at the Zawiya refinery used to store untreated naphtha was directly hit by a drone, causing severe damage to its wall and two holes that led to a partial leak of the stored product, without triggering a fire.

"The area also came under attack yesterday, when the Zawiya water desalination plant was directly hit by a drone," it added.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah held a broad military and security meeting in Tripoli, calling for "firm action against any challenges or acts targeting vital facilities."

Libya, which has Africa's largest oil reserves, has faced political and institutional divisions since the fall and killing of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

Two rival governments currently compete for power. One is based in Tripoli and headed by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, with international recognition, while the other is based in eastern Libya and backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar.