Big news is coming from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A massive fire broke out after an explosion at an oil depot in the city on Friday. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the attack. This attack happened just before Formula One racing. The F1 racing track is very close to where the fire started.
Many videos of fire are going viral on social media. In these, the flames of the oil depot are visible from afar and a plume of smoke can be seen up to several meters in the sky. It is being told that the sound of explosion was heard before the fire started.
#breaking , A few minutes ago, the Houthis attacked Jeddah and hit Aramco’s petroleum facilities in Jeddah, west Saudi Arabia, a loud explosion was heard and a fire broke out. pic.twitter.com/IW0nivmxVt
— WorldNews IL (@WorldNewsIL) March 25, 2022
According to the Associated Press, Saudi Arabia’s oil company Saudi Aremco and the Saudi government have not yet made any statement on the matter. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Formula One race is to be held in Jeddah on Sunday. In such a situation, there is a danger in this event.
An Associated Press photojournalist covering practice laps on the F1 track in Jeddah saw smoke rising at 5.30 p.m. local time. The smoke was rising from an oil depot a short distance from the racing track. Within no time, flames could be seen rising from afar.
F1 said in their statement that they are monitoring the situation and are waiting for updates from the local administration.