On 3/3, queues of vehicles formed in Manchester, Liverpool, and Hertfordshire, UK. At a Costco petrol station in Manchester, lines stretched for meters from early morning. The hours-long waits caused severe traffic congestion around the area. Many reported waiting over 60 minutes without reaching the pumps.

Panic spread as some stations displayed 'out of stock' signs. However, major retailers like Tesco and BP clarified that national supply remains stable, attributing disruptions solely to overloaded pumping equipment.

Long queues of vehicles lined up at a Costco petrol station in Manchester, UK on 3/3. *Photo: Zenpix*

Edmund King, President of the Automobile Association (AA), predicted petrol prices could reach new peaks in the next 10-12 days. Despite this, Luke Bosdet, an AA representative, advised drivers to remain calm. "Rushing to buy now only causes unnecessary waste of time," he stated.

The Strait of Hormuz, a route accounting for one-fifth of global oil, faces a potential blockade due to ongoing conflict. This situation raises concerns among many families in Europe and Oceania about their household budgets.

In Australia, petrol stations saw similar tension. On the evening of 3/3, thousands of drivers in Perth queued for blocks. Prices at many stations surged above 2 AUD (approximately 1,41 USD) per liter, a sharp increase from the previous day.

Waiting fatigue led many to lose patience. Driver Tash Woods recounted witnessing heated arguments when one customer deliberately filled 10 additional plastic jerry cans, disregarding dozens of vehicles waiting behind.

Vehicles queuing at a service station in Sydney, Australia on 4/3. *Photo: Sarah Wilson*

In major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, retail prices even reached 2,19 AUD (approximately 1,54 USD) per liter. The National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA) criticized oil corporations for exploiting public panic for profit. They noted that while wholesale prices saw a slight increase, retail prices soared dramatically, placing a direct burden on households.

In response, local authorities advised residents to cease panic buying. They asserted that national reserves are sufficient to meet demand until the end of May.

Minh Phuong (According to The Sun, ABC News)