Gas Pipeline Blast in Southern Iraq Kills 2, Injures 51

By Staff, Agencies

At least two people were killed and 51 injured after a gas pipeline explosion in southern Iraq, police sources said on Saturday.

The blast occurred on Friday night near the southern city of Samawa, 270 km south of Baghdad, and firefighters managed to contain the fire after shutting down the gas line, police said.

A military statement said the pipeline blast killed two children and injured 28. The causes of the explosion are still unknown and firefighting crews are still trying to put out fires, it said.

Iraqi energy officials said the domestic line is transporting gas from some of the southern fields to feed power stations in some southern cities and a key power station near Baghdad.

The explosion has no effect on Iraq’s gas production and processing operations, two gas officials said.