Three fuel tankers catch fire on Duhamel-Mosul road, no casualties reported

DUHOK, Iraq — Three fuel tankers traveling between Duhamel and Mosul caught fire overnight on the Duhamel-Mosul road, triggering a large blaze near Fayda Nahiya, an oil source said. Drivers and passing motorists were ordered away from the area over fears of an explosion. Fire crews were dispatched to the scene to extinguish the flames and cool the tankers, and part of the road was temporarily closed to prevent the fire from spreading, according to the source. Initial reports indicated no casualties. The cause of the fire and the extent of the material damage had not yet been disclosed by official authorities. The Duhamel-Mosul route, particularly during dry summer months when surrounding farmland is parched, has frequently seen similar tanker fires. Drivers had previously raised concerns about fully loaded tankers being held for long periods near checkpoints and near areas with open fires. Similar incidents have occurred on the same road, including a tanker fire in June 2025 that killed a driver and another in 2022 on the Duhamel-Fayda road that injured civilians and firefighting personnel.