Ankara, 19 Jan (Xinhua) -- According to Turkey's Anadolu News Agency, an explosion occurred on the evening of 18 January near the town of Pazardzek in Kahraman Marash province in southeastern Turkey, causing the interruption of crude oil transmission.
Firefighters carry out firefighting operations at the site of an oil pipeline explosion near the town of Pazardzek in The Kamalamanmarash province of southeastern Turkey on Jan. 19. (Xinhua News Agency)
The report said that the fire caused by the explosion did not cause casualties, and the cause of the explosion is not clear. Bottasch, the operator of the pipeline, said the fire had been extinguished and the company would resume crude oil shipments as soon as possible.
Smoke billows from an oil pipeline explosion near the town of Pazardzek in the kakhramanmarash province of southeastern Turkey on January 19. (Xinhua News Agency)
The pipeline connects Kirkuk in northern Iraq with the port of Ceyhan in Turkey. After the explosion, Bottas announced the temporary closure of the pipeline.
The fire sparked by the explosion spread to a nearby highway. At present, the road has been blocked in both directions. Except for fire rescue vehicles, other vehicles are prohibited from passing. The local government dispatched a large number of fire trucks and ambulances to the scene for rescue.