Iraq refinery fire kills one, injures 15

Jan. 8, 2008
One worker was killed and 15 others injured when a fire broke out at Iraq's largest refinery in Baiji, Salahudin province, just 200 km north of Baghdad.

Eric Watkins
Senior Correspondent

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 8 -- One worker was killed and 15 others injured when a fire broke out at Iraq's largest refinery in Baiji, Salahudin province, just 200 km north of Baghdad.

A spokesman for the oil ministry could not say when the fire was likely to be extinguished or production expected to resume.

The fire was ignited by an explosion at the refinery's cooking gas unit, but the spokesman said it was too soon to tell if the explosion was the result of an accident or not.

Baiji has been the focus in recent months of violent attacks by suspected fighters belonging to the al-Qaeda terrorist organization.

News of the fire coincided with claims by Iraq's militant Ansar al-Islam Group that it was responsible for three attacks on US forces and an oil pipeline during Dec. 20 to Jan. 2.

The group, which has ties to al-Qaeda, said it blew up an oil pipeline in the Zammar area of north Mosul on Jan. 1.

Contact Eric Watkins at [email protected].