Massive explosion, fire, and black smoke at oil refinery near Budapest – videos and photos

Numerous eyewitnesses told the Hungarian News Agency late last night that the flames and smoke from the Százhalombatta oil refinery, operated by the Hungarian oil and gas giant MOL, could be seen from several kilometres away. Fortunately, the fire was quickly contained by emergency responders who arrived promptly at the scene.

Explosion and fire at MOL’s oil refinery

Mihály Vezér, the mayor of Százhalombatta, reported on social media that the local authorities are in contact with the operational task force directing the refinery’s hazard management. The fire broke out on Monday night at the Dunai Refinery’s AV3 unit. It was swiftly contained, and firefighters have remained on site since, MOL stated in a press release issued last night.

The company emphasised that, fortunately, there were no injuries, and the exact cause of the accident remains under investigation. Attila Csámpai, spokesperson for the Pest County Disaster Management Directorate, confirmed that they had received no reports of anyone being injured in the fire. Earlier, disaster management authorities reported that a raw material processing plant in Százhalombatta had caught fire.

• Is the railway no longer safe? Brutal collision near the border, bomb threat on the Budapest express – photos and videos

@szokeantal #robbanás #explosion #mol #finomító #tűz ♬ Zombie – Extended Mix – Ran-D

Initially, MOL’s own firefighting teams arrived at the scene, followed by crews from nearby towns including Érd, Törökbálint, Budapest, and Szigetszentmiklós. Also present were the Pest County Disaster Management Operational Service and the Komárom-Esztergom County Mobile Disaster Laboratory. Firefighters are tackling the blaze using foam and water cannons, MOL added.

Local mayor offers reassurance

According to a post published by Mayor Mihály Vezér (Értünk Százhalombattai Közéleti Egyesület) an hour ago, MOL’s production director confirmed that investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing. Firefighting efforts continue on site, but the dense smoke produced during operations remains visible from several neighbouring towns.

• MOL’s pipeline dream hits a wall in Croatia

“The fire did not cause any personal injuries, and surrounding communities were never at risk. Both official and internal investigations are under way to determine the exact causes of the accident,” added Zsolt Mathisz.

In an earlier post, the mayor stated that residents were not required to take any action, while the command staff had been mobilised in the town.

According to information obtained by index.hu from industry insiders, the entire oil refinery faces the possibility of a complete shutdown.

Prime Minister Orbán Viktor, in his morning post, has promised the strictest investigation into the fire.

Firefighters still working in Százhalombatta

According to this morning’s disaster management update, an explosion and fire occurred late Monday evening in a raw material processing plant. The incident has been categorised under the highest level of alert. Professional firefighters from the aforementioned towns responded, supported by mobile disaster laboratories from Budapest and Komárom-Esztergom County. Additional chemical and foam containers were transported from Budapest, and the county disaster management operational service remains on site.

• Hungarian MOL-Croatian INA war: did MOL CEO Hernádi bribe Croatian PM with EUR 10M?

Seventeen firefighting units are involved in the operation, alongside the refinery’s own teams. One side is combating the fire with four water cannons, while the other is using four water cannons and one foam cannon. By early Tuesday morning, the fire had been contained, although firefighting efforts continue, according to the disaster management statement.

Massive explosion shakes a Russian-owned oil refinery next door

Shortly before the blast and fire in Százhalombatta, another major refinery in a NATO member state was rocked by an explosion. Located in Ploiești, in the Wallachian region, the refinery is one of Romania’s largest, with a capacity of over 2.5 million tonnes. Authorities are considering all possibilities, including the unsettling prospect that the incident may have been a deliberate act.

The business daily Világgazdaság noted that the refinery is owned by the Russian company Lukoil (while Hungary’s MOL processes Russian oil), a particularly significant detail given that both Russians and Ukrainians have recently intensified attacks targeting each other’s energy infrastructure.

In a harrowing detail, a 57-year-old worker suffered serious leg and head injuries in the Romanian blast and was immediately taken to the intensive care unit of the local hospital.

Click for other MOL-related articles.

UPDATE: MOL weighs need to use strategic reserves after refinery fire

Hungarian oil and gas company MOL said it was weighing the need to use strategic reserves after a fire at its refinery south of the capital in an announcement posted on the website of the Budapest Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

MOL said the firefighters had localised the fire at the oil refinery in Szazhalombatta and were working to secure the area. It added that an investigation of the cause of the fire, which did not result in any injuries or cause air quality to exceed health thresholds, was underway.

In line with emergency protocols, units at the refinery that were not affected by the fire are gradually being restarted, MOL said. “In the coming period, we will focus on Hungarian supply and consider the need to use strategic reserves….The fuel supply of Hungary is secured,” it added.