Fire broke out today in a refinery unit Abadan of Iranresulting in a worker losing his life, the country’s Ministry of Petroleum news agency said.

The operation of the refinery was not affected.

According to the preliminary, technical research, the cause of the fire was a leak in one of its pumps Unit 70. “There have been no evidence of sabotage or human intervention so far,” the Shana agency added.

Many workers suffered burns and at least three are in serious condition, said Abadan Governor Hosro Pirhandi, speaking on state television. As he said, the accident may be due to the age of certain components.

The videos released by local agencies depict flames and dense, black smoke rising above the refinery, which is the oldest in the country.

Abadan is in the southwestern province Hucesstanone of the warmest areas in the world today, where the temperature reaches 50 degrees Celsius. The refinery, like almost all Iranian oil and gas treatment plants, needs significant maintenance work after decades of international sanctions against Iran.