The Associated Press
TIRANA, Albania — A massive fire at a fuel storage facility in northwestern Albania raged for nearly 30 hours before Albanian and Greek firefighters managed to bring it under control Monday, the Interior and Environment ministries said.
One of three storage tanks exploded at the facility in the town of Shengjin, 60 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of capital, Tirana, and at least seven Albanian firefighters were injured in the blast and from the fumes, officials said.
Police said they evacuated scores of residents from nearby homes, and set up checkpoints along roads leading to the area to keep people away.
About 1,000 tons of oil leaked from the storage tanks, polluting the waters of Knalle Lagoon, authorities said.
The Environment Ministry said the leak had caused serious damage, while environmental groups voiced fears that the oil could leak into the nearby Adriatic Sea.
Environment Ministry spokesman Tom Thercaj said authorities would block the link between the lagoon and the sea in an effort to prevent the spill from spreading.
It was not immediately clear what caused the fire or the leak, and authorities had launched an investigation.