Gas Pipeline Blast in Russia’s Leningrad Region Caused By Technical Fault

Text of report by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti

St Petersburg, 13 January: There was an explosion on the main gas pipeline in Leningrad Region’s Tosnenskiy District on Sunday [13 January], but there are no reports of casualties, a representative of the regional directorate of the Russian Emergencies Ministry told RIA Novosti.

“The explosion occurred at around 0900 msk [0600 gmt] 90 km away from St Petersburg. There are no reports of casualties,” he said.

The source added that the explosion had occurred in an area close to a major road. There are no settlements nearby. The flame is reaching the height of 50 m. and the area on fire is around 150 sq.m.

Fire-fighters from Novgorod Region came to assistance of rescuers. It is currently being established who owns the pipeline.

[Vesti TV news channel, Moscow, in Russian reported at 0930 gmt that "the fire on the St Petersburg-Novgorod main gas pipeline was localized. No-one was injured. Fire-fighters managed to prevent the spread of the fire to a nearby oil refinery and a station of agricultural equipment. Consumers did not experience difficulties with gas supplies. They received gas via reserve channels. Fire was caused by a technical malfunction."]

Originally published by RIA Novosti news agency, Moscow, in Russian 0655 13 Jan 08.

(c) 2008 BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.