Blast reported at Saudi energy facilities in Jubail, fire at Aramco refinery

Blast rocks Jubail industrial complex

A loud explosion was heard in Saudi Arabia's Jubail region on Wednesday as regional sources reported that gas facilities in the industrial city had been targeted, sparking a fire whose cause remains unclear, according to Arab media outlets.

The blast occurred in Jubail Industrial City, a major petrochemical hub on the kingdom's eastern coast. Reports indicated that the resulting fire broke out at gas facilities within the complex, though no further details were provided regarding the nature of the incident or potential casualties.

Separate blaze at Jizan refinery

In a separate development, Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry confirmed that a fire had erupted at one of the facilities belonging to the Aramco refinery in Jizan. The ministry stated that the incident resulted in no fatalities, though it did not specify the cause of the blaze.

Regional sources had earlier indicated that Saudi Aramco facilities in Jizan had been targeted, but authorities did not confirm whether the blaze was the result of an attack or an accident.

Connection between incidents unclear

It was not immediately clear whether the incident in Jizan was connected to the reported explosion in Jubail, located some 1,200 kilometers to the northeast. Both facilities are critical to the kingdom's energy infrastructure, with Jubail serving as one of the world's largest industrial cities and a key center for petrochemical production.