Inferno in Misurata: Massive Ammo Depot Explosions Rain Artillery Shells Over Ghiran

MISURATA, Libya — A series of violent explosions rocked the Ghiran area, south of Misurata, on Friday evening, August 21, 2026, after a massive fire broke out at a local military ammunition depot, triggering widespread panic as rockets and artillery shells rained down on surrounding neighborhoods.

The blasts began shortly after dusk when a fire inside the storage facility reached unexploded ordnance and heavy weaponry. The resulting chain reaction produced consecutive detonations that echoed across the city, illuminating the night sky with towering fireballs and thick plumes of smoke.

As the blaze spread uncontrollably through the warehouse, cooked-off artillery shells, mortar rounds, and rockets were launched randomly into the air. Shell casing fragments and unexploded projectiles landed in nearby residential areas and open fields, forcing terrified residents in Ghiran to seek immediate shelter or flee their homes.

Emergency services, including firefighting crews and ambulance units, rushed toward the perimeter but were initially held back due to the continuous secondary explosions and dangerous flying shrapnel.

Local security forces cordoned off a wide safety zone around the burning facility, shutting down major roads leading into the Ghiran area to prevent civilian casualties. Bomb disposal squads and civil defense personnel were deployed to track the fall of rogue ordnance and secure unexploded items scattered across the nearby sectors.

Authorities have launched an urgent investigation into the cause of the initial fire at the depot. Preliminary inquiries are assessing whether extreme summer heat, electrical failure, improper storage conditions, or human negligence ignited the initial blaze.

Municipal leaders in Misurata have issued urgent safety warnings instructing local residents to remain indoors and strictly avoid handling any stray metal fragments or unexploded devices found in their yards or streets. Disaster relief teams and medical facilities across the city remain on high alert, preparing emergency centers to assist displaced families while military engineers work around the clock to completely cool the site and neutralize remaining explosive hazards.