ROME, Sept 27 — A huge fire broke out overnight yesterdayin an oil refinery on the Italian island of Sicily, causing traffic jams as panicked residents fled the area.

The blaze at the Milazzo refinery sent flames shooting into the night sky, which could be seen for miles around, according to local press reports.

Firefighters said they had brought the blaze “under control” by this morning and no-one was injured.

The fire took hold in a 5,000-litre (22,700-gallon) tank at the facility jointly owned by Eni and Kuwait Petroleum Italy.

Residents ignored assurances from the emergency services that it would not spread and hundreds took to their cars in the darkness, causing long tailbacks on the island’s roads.

The fire was still burning today, giving off a thick cloud of smoke. Firefighters said it would burn until the tank was empty.

Maintenance work was being carried out at the refinery when the blaze started, but the cause was not immediately clear.

Seven workers were killed at the refinery in an explosion in 1993. — AFP