Gas Pipeline Blast Injures 21 in South Russia, Terrorism Suspected - NEWS - MOSNEWS.COM

Gas Pipeline Blast Injures 21 in South Russia, Terrorism Suspected - NEWS - MOSNEWS.COM

Gas Pipeline Blast Injures 21 in South Russia, Terrorism Suspected
Created: 09.12.2004 10:30 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 10:30 MSK


MosNews

A major fire broke out on a section of a gas pipeline in south Russia’s Dagestan Wednesday night, after a blast that injured 21 people and is suspected of being sabotage.

A blast ripped through the Mozdok-Gazimagomed gas pipeline just after 10 p.m. Wednesday night in an area north of the regional capital Makhachkala, news agencies reported.

Dozens were injured, including two firemen, and six people were still in hospital as of Thursday morning. Over a hundred firefighters managed to put out the flames by midnight.

Although there were no residential buildings near the pipeline, 148,000 people have had their gas supplies cut off in nine surrounding residential areas.

By Thursday morning, rescue workers and specialists from state-owned gas giant Gazprom were working to repair the damaged segment of the pipeline.

Local authorities launched a criminal investigation into the incident, suspecting a terrorist attack was behind the blast, Itar-Tass reported.

Deutsche Welle English Service News January 22nd 2005, 16:00 UTC:

Blasts hit gas pipelines in South Russia

Two explosions on gas pipelines have halted gas deliveries from Russia to Georgia and Armenia. Russian officials said the blasts appear to have been set off deliberately. Georgia has gas reserves until Monday, but Russian authorities say repairs could take up to three days. Russian gas giant Gazprom says it is having trouble meeting domestic energy demands as the country shivers in the grip of an Arctic freeze.

Meanwhile, Georgia's president has accused Moscow of sabotaging the Russian pipelines. Mikhail Saakashvili says that the near simultaneous explosions close to Georgia's border were politically motivated.