The shutdown of a major US pipeline from a cyberattack has resulted in mass panic-buying and physical brawls over gas.
Colonial Pipeline fell victim to the attack on Friday, May 8, and its information technology systems were shut down as a precautionary measure, per NBC News.
This resulted in the closure of the Colonial Pipeline - a 5,500 mile-long vessel that transports 100 million gallons of fuel between Texas and New Jersey every day.
CNN reports that 2.3% of gas stations in North Carolina and 8.6% in Virginia have now completely run out of gas, according to figures from fuel-reporting app GasBuddy.
Residents in Georgia, Florida, Virginia, and South Carolina have all been stocking up on gas, with some going as far as to put it into plastic bags in their vehicles - something that is considered a highly dangerous thing to do.
Fights have broken out at gas pumps too, with Daily Mail reporting that two motorists were charged with assault after getting into a fight at a North Carolina gas station.
Footage of the incident was later posted to Instagram:WRAL reports that Alexus Orianna Harris, 25, was charged with simple assault, and Matthew James-Stark Artero, 47, was charged with assault on a female and damage to personal property.
Meanwhile, other residents in affected areas have taken to social media to warn against panic buying.
One Twitter user wrote: "Yes all of the gas in my city is gone because people are putting them in bags and canisters. Why do people panic buy it's so stupid? Now we're out of gas [sic]."
A second added: "I read about the gas shortage and they specifically said don't panic and buy up all the gas, and what y'all do ........ [sic]"
A state of emergency has been declared by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, New York Post reports. Kemp even issued an additional executive order suspending tax on gas in a bit to stop spiraling prices.
Colonial Pipeline is the largest purveyor of refined fuel, including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, and NBC reports that it is hoping to be fully operational again by Friday, May 14.
However, the Automobile Association of America reports that Tuesday, May 11, the national average gas price had risen to $2.985 per gallon.
.jpg_Oqrget?tr=h-184)