A large fire broke out today at an oil refinery in southern Lebanon, state media said, adding that the cause was not yet known.

The National News Agency reported that there were no employees nearby when the fire broke out in a large gas tank in the village of Zahrani on the Mediterranean coast, reports Beta.

Fire trucks arrived immediately to put out the blaze, which is near one of Lebanon's main power plants. The plant shut down on Saturday due to a lack of fuel at a time when Lebanon is facing a serious crisis and there is no electricity 22 hours a day.

Thick black smoke billowed over the area around the Zahrani Oil Plant, about 50km south of Beirut.

Authorities blocked the main highway linking Beirut to southern Lebanon and passing through Zahrani.

The blaze erupted more than a year after a catastrophic explosion at Beirut port killed 215 people and injured thousands, and the port and surrounding neighborhoods were destroyed.

Source: MIA