TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A tragic incident occurred at Iran’s oldest and largest refinery, the Abadan refinery, located in the southwest of the country, resulting in the death of one worker. This tragic event happened on Saturday, with a state media report confirming the details on Sunday.

The incident was attributed to a leaky pump in an under-repair unit of the refinery. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze within two hours of its outbreak, ensuring that operational activities at the refinery remained unaffected. However, reports indicate that several workers sustained injuries during the incident, as confirmed by Iran’s deputy parliament speaker, Ali Nikzad.

The Abadan oil refinery, situated approximately 670 kilometers (nearly 416 miles) from the capital city of Tehran, has been operational since 1912. As the largest refinery in the Islamic Republic, it is responsible for producing around 25% of the country’s fuel, with a staggering capacity to refine more than 5,200,000 barrels of oil each day.

In recent days, the country has faced multiple fire incidents across various residential and commercial buildings. Authorities have attributed these fires to gas leaks and electrical short-circuiting, highlighting ongoing safety concerns within the infrastructure.

Despite being one of the world’s major oil producers, Iran's ability to sell its oil has been significantly restricted due to ongoing sanctions imposed by Western countries. This has created various challenges for its economy and oil sector.

Overall, the recent fire at the Abadan refinery underscores the critical importance of safety measures in industrial settings, particularly in facilities responsible for the large-scale production of essential resources like oil.