SLEMANI — Two major fires in Slemani within less than 24 hours caused more than 7 billion Iraqi dinars ($5.3 million) in damage and left 32 people injured, according to the Director of the Slemani Environment Office.
Shai Awat, Director of the Slemani Governorate Environment Office, said on Tuesday, August 18, that the incidents highlighted serious shortcomings in the enforcement of safety measures across the Kurdistan Region.
“Unfortunately, in Kurdistan, safety procedures are not only ignored, but safety inspection efforts in both the government and private sectors are actively opposed,” Awat said in a statement.
He said the fire at the Tanjaro fuel storage depot on Monday, followed by a fire involving a gasoline tanker at the Slemani Governorate building on Tuesday, resulted in more than 7 billion dinars in damage and 32 recorded injuries.
Awat also warned of the broader environmental impact of the incidents, citing extensive damage to Slemani’s environment and air quality.
Addressing Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Awat called for immediate action to strengthen safety and environmental protection mechanisms.
He urged Talabani, whom he described as an advocate for environmental protection, to issue a decree activating protection systems and ordering both licensed companies and public-sector institutions to conduct strict investigations without exception or favoritism.
The two fires occurred within a day of each other, raising renewed concerns over safety standards at fuel-related facilities and public institutions in Slemani and the effectiveness of existing inspection and emergency-response mechanisms.
