MOSCOW (Sputnik) – An explosion occurred at a gas pipeline in Russia’s Kaluga region in the early hours of Friday.
"Open burning has been eliminated, according to preliminary information, no people were injured," the representative said.
An emergencies task force has been sent to the site, where a fire has erupted, the representative said, adding that local residents are leaving fearing that the blaze will spread.
An emergencies source told RIA Novosti that the gas from the pipeline was burning and that the fire plume reached 20-25 meters (65-82 feet). According to the source, the underground pipeline has a diameter of 1,200 millimeters (47 inches).
Nobody was injured in the accident, according to Russian emergencies authorities.
Over 30 people and nine units of equipment are working on the site of the accident, the emergencies source told RIA Novosti.
