A fire broke out in the early hours of the morning at a battery processing facility in the city of Elbasan, causing panic and concern among nearby businesses located within the industrial zone.

According to preliminary information, the incident was reported at around 4:00 a.m., when flames erupted inside the facility and spread rapidly, fueled by the combustible materials stored within the premises.

Firefighters arrived at the scene immediately after the alarm was raised and launched an operation to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to surrounding businesses and industrial units.

Authorities said that four fire engines and 15 firefighters were involved in the operation, working under difficult conditions due to heavy smoke and the hazardous materials inside the facility.

Initial suspicions suggest that the fire may have been caused by a gas leak from a storage tank located within the battery processing plant. No casualties have been reported so far, while investigations into the incident are ongoing.