A major fire broke out at the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) in the city of Visakhapatnam, India, causing alarm among residents of the surrounding areas, while unconfirmed reports suggest an explosion preceded the fire.
According to reports from The New Indian Express, massive flames rose above the industrial complex, while thick clouds of black smoke blanketed the sky and were visible from a great distance.
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Arson behind the fire at a café in vrysoules
Employees reported hearing a loud noise that sounded like an explosion shortly before the fire broke out, though it has not been officially confirmed that an explosion preceded the fire. “We heard sounds of an explosion in the area. The flames spread quickly, and thick clouds of black smoke rose into the sky, covering the surrounding area,” said a refinery employee.
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BREAKING A massive fire has erupted at the HPCL refinery in Visakhapatnam, India. Towering flames light up the sky as thick smoke engulfs the facility, which has an annual production capacity of 15 million tonnes. https://t.co/vgO0IKddKH
— RussiaNews(@mog_russEN) November 2, 2026
The refinery’s in-house firefighting teams rushed to the scene immediately, as well as fire trucks from various parts of the city, in order to contain the flames and prevent the fire from spreading.
According to reports in The New Indian Express, the fire broke out in a storage tank for heavy petroleum products at the refinery’s residue upgrading unit.
An HPCL official explained that the particularly thick smoke was due to the high viscosity of the material stored in the tank.
For safety reasons, refinery management cut off power to the affected area and evacuated workers to safe locations.
At the same time, police forces were deployed around the perimeter of the facility, blocking access to the site.
Disruption in nearby residential areas
The flames and heavy smoke caused great concern among residents of the neighboring areas of Malkapuram and Sricharipuram.
Many people came out of their homes when they noticed the fire and saw thick clouds of smoke rising above the refinery.
According to a company spokesperson, no injuries or fatalities have been reported so far as a result of the incident.
The extent of the property damage has not yet been assessed, and the exact causes of the fire remain under investigation.
The HPCL refinery in Visakhapatnam is one of the major oil processing facilities on India’s east coast.
The relevant authorities are monitoring the situation, with the priority being to fully extinguish the fire and ensure the safety of workers and local residents.
Source: Proto Thema
