Fire at Sulaymaniyah governorate fuel station extinguished, no casualties

SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq — A large fire at a fuel station inside the Sulaymaniyah governorate building was brought under control and extinguished after roughly one hour of firefighting, the provincial Civil Defense Directorate said. Directorate spokesperson Aram Ali said no casualties were reported and that damage was limited to material losses, adding that crews responded promptly and successfully contained the blaze. The station supplies fuel to vehicles belonging to the governorate, according to the directorate. Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani spoke by telephone with Sulaymaniyah Governor Hawfal Abu Bakir following fires that struck the city over the past two days. Barzani instructed the governor and local officials to tighten measures aimed at protecting citizens' lives and property. The KRG government said it stands ready to provide all forms of cooperation and support to Sulaymaniyah. No further details on the cause of the fire were immediately available.