11 Oct 2021; MEMO: Traffic was being diverted away from Lebanon's Zahrani oil facility this morning after a fire broke out at a gasoline storage tank, a security source told Reuters.
The areas surrounding the fire, which was still not under control, were being cooled to prevent it spreading, the source said. There was no immediate official comment or reports of casualties at the Zahrani oil facility on the Mediterranean coast.
The facility at Zahrani, around eight kilometres south of the city of Sidon, houses one of the country's main power stations.
Al Jadeed TV channel reported the Lebanese army was evacuating the area amid fears that the fire would spread and cause an explosion.
Lebanon is battling a deep economic meltdown that has seen its currency lose around 90 per cent of its value in the past year and propelled three quarters of its population into poverty.
The country plunging into darkness this weekend after fuel shortages forced its two largest power stations to shut down.
Iran has supplied the country with fuel through its allies Syria and Hezbollah and said last week it would be happy to continue to help Beirut.
However, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has said the Iranian shipments constitute a breach of his country's sovereignty.
