Pipeline in north-eastern Syria 'damaged by fire'
LONDON. July 13. KAZINFORM Fire has damaged an pipeline in north-eastern Syria, the oil ministry has said, though it is unclear if the blaze was accidental or caused by sabotage; Kazinform refers to BBC News.
State media quoted an official as saying the blaze in Deir al-Zour province was probably the result of dry weather conditions or a pipeline leak.
But witnesses told a UK-based rights group there was an explosion; a local tribal leader said it was a bomb.
The province has been the scene of major anti-government demonstrations.
Eastern Syria accounts for all 380,000 barrels of oil produced per day in the country, but is one of its poorest regions, with little government investment.
Investigation
The oil ministry source told Sana the pipeline fire erupted on Tuesday, and that flames spread to a wide area before being extinguished.
Officials had begun an investigation into the incident, which "might have resulted from a fire in the surrounding dry grass or from a leak where part of the pipeline is undergoing maintenance work", the source added.
The flow of oil was not disrupted, as alternative pipelines were used; Kazinform cites BBC News.
To learn more go to www.bbc.co.uk