A huge fire that erupted in Morocco's biggest oil installation in the port of Mohammedia was under control early Tuesday, and there were no casualties, according to Maghreb Arabe Presse.
Earlier reports had stated that the blaze that broke out Monday night in a refinery belonging to Morocco's SAMIR company had claimed the lives of at least three people.
Citing a "crisis cell" that was established by the Moroccan government to coordinate relief efforts under Interior Minister Mostafa Sahel, MAP said there was "no danger" to people living in the nearby area.
Firemen brought in from the entire region around Mohammedia, some 65 kilometers south of the capital Rabat, managed to halt the progress of the flames.
The official news agency, in addition, said the refinery had been flooded after torrential rain in the region over the last couple of days had swollen the El Maleh river. The floodwaters lifted waste oil and brought it into contact with hot parts of the refinery causing explosions and several fires.
However, these blazes were away from where the oil was stocked and there were no leaks of gas, the agency added. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
