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Powerful explosion rocks Azerbaijani part of Caspian Sea followed by large fire
POLITICS
05.07.2021 | 14:42
A large fire has broken out late Sunday in the Caspian Sea, where Azerbaijan has vast offshore oil and gas fields.
Footage circulating on social media showed the huge blaze visible from the coast, and earlier media reports suggested there had been an explosion on an offshore platform.
However, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations denied these reports and said there had been no accident.
The ministry said it was investigating the cause of the fire.
Azerbaijani news agency APA quoted a state oil company SOCAR spokesman as saying a blast took place about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Umid gas field, which is 75 kilometers (45 miles) off the coast of the capital, Baku.
The Caspian Sea has a high concentration of mud volcanoes, which discharge both mud and flammable gas.
