Two workers killed in pipeline fire at Iraq’s Zubair oilfield, officials say

Smoke rises from a fire at an oil pipeline in Zubair oilfield, Iraq, 26 October, 2025
Reuters

At least two workers were killed in a fire that broke out on an oil pipeline at Iraq’s Zubair oilfield on Sunday, according to oilfield officials.

They said the incident had not affected oil flows, with output currently standing at 400,000 barrels per day.

The blaze, which also left five workers seriously injured, erupted while maintenance crews were carrying out welding operations near the pipeline. Firefighters were deployed to tackle the flames, which had ignited on a section of the pipeline transporting crude oil from the Zubair field to nearby storage tanks.

In a statement, the Oil Ministry said the fire began due to a gas leak in an old pumping system at the Zubair oil storage depot. It confirmed that one employee from the Basra Oil Company (BOC) had died and four others were injured.

The ministry added that incidents of this kind take time to bring under full control.

Officials noted that some of the injured workers had sustained severe burns and remained in critical condition, warning that the death toll could rise.

While production has not been affected, officials cautioned that the fire must be contained swiftly to prevent a partial halt in loading operations.

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