South Florida gas stations are reporting gas shortages as prices continue to increase due to Iran war

For the first time since the war against Iran began, some South Florida gas station managers are reporting temporary shortages of gasoline. CBS News Miami found several stations with no gasoline Thursday morning, while one station had only premium fuel for sale.

Experts attribute the interruptions to supply chain disruptions and a surge in demand, tied in part to panic buying.

CBS News Miami visited a Shell station on S.W. 87th Ave., which had no gasoline until a tanker truck arrived at 2 p.m. Thursday. Customer Steve Vega expressed his frustration, saying, "I guess I have to get my gas somewhere else."

Further south on S.W. 87th Ave. at Coral Way, an Exxon station was only selling premium gasoline. Manager Felix Colon of a Westar station in Coral Gables also reported having "no gas at all" while waiting for a delivery. "There is some disruption going on with oil, and we really don't know what is going on," Colon said.

Another customer, Duperly Panzon, refused to buy the more expensive fuel, saying, "This is not fair. This is not good. I am not going to pay for a premium. I am going somewhere else." Rachel Ruiseco reluctantly bought premium, stating, "I wasn't expecting that. I knew prices were really going up really high, but I did not know they would run out of gas."

Maximo Alvarez, President of Sunshine Gasoline Distributors in Doral, which supplies about 600 stations, acknowledged the interruptions.

"Yes, we have had some interruptions because demand is very high," Alvarez said. "The biggest problem is that demand is up and transportation is limited. Drivers are only allowed to drive so many hours. That, plus it takes the time it takes, for example, to take gasoline from Port Everglades to the Keys. It takes 24 hours to send one load of gasoline."

He also cited backlogs at Port Everglades, where "There are big lines because it takes time to fuel the trucks."

Alvarez suggested fear of rising prices is driving customer behavior. "The problem is pretty much tied to the fact that people are buying more gasoline, perhaps more than they need. The prices are going up, and everyone wants to fill up. They are afraid prices are going to be higher, and the fear is affecting their behavior."

His main message: "The biggest message I have is that there is plenty of gasoline and people should not panic."

AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins echoed that sentiment, stating he is "not hearing of widespread shortages statewide." He suggested the issue is more about increased demand overwhelming certain stations, which typically resolves quickly.

"In many cases what you are likely seeing is an increase on demand right now where drivers area little price adverse and they are comparing prices and are more likely to to stop at stations where there are lower prices right now and some stations might not be able to keep up with demand," Jenkins said, adding that problems are usually resolved "by the next day."

Jenkins' advice to drivers is to "Shop around, and there is no need to panic."