SAMARA, Russia - Gas Pipeline Fire Handled, No Casualties

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HEADLINE: Gas Pipeline Fire in Central Russia Put Out

Story Filed: Thursday, April 13, 2000 4:38 PM EST

SAMARA, April 14 (Itar-Tass) - The fire at a Mokrous- Togliatti gas pipeline section has been put out and there have been no casualties, the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations reported.

The fire broke out following a major blast of a gas pipeline section, that was registered at 22:10, local time, 40 kilometers from central Russian city of Samara on the Volga.

The blast occurred outside the village of Dubovy Umet. A several-dozen-meter-high column of burning gas shot up into the air from the pipe after the blast.

Luckily, the accident site is the open field, and the blaze has caused no damage. The pipeline has been cut off. Gas sector specialists say there will be no gas shortages, as there are other bypassing routes to transport it.

Several fire-fighting brigades, a group from the Ministry for Emergency Situations and police are working at the site. Specialists are looking into the cause of the blast.

It was most likely caused by a pipeline rupture, which could have been triggered by the thawing out of soil and a resulting shift of the pipeline. A subversive act is also not ruled out.

zhe/

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), April 14, 2000


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