Abstract: Typical storage tank accidents worldwide are discussed in the paper, including the Buncefield fire in the UKand the tank cracking in Pennsylvania, USA. The measures taken by UK government against the Buncefield fire is worthylearning, such as making the report of investigation available to public, setting up a website to share the experiences andlessons, and setting a time limit for completing rectifications, etc. The experiences and lessons relating to typical storagetank accidents worldwide are thoroughly studied, including equipment faults, manufacturing defects, lightning strike, electrostatic discharge, open flame, incompliant operations and construction, and electrical sparks and short circuiting, etc.The paper finally provides some advices for improving technical standards regarding storage tank design and construction, operation management, and fire fighting in China.