Explosion Occurs at Federal Gas Pipeline in Russia's Orenburg Region, Local Government Says

UFA, Russia (Sputnik) - An explosion has occurred at a federal gas pipeline in Russia's district of Ileksky, located in the Orenburg Region, with emergency services mobilized to manage the damage caused be the incident, the region's government said on Tuesday.

Russia has suspended gas transit to Kazakhstan after an explosion has occurred at a federal gas pipeline in the Orenburg Region, the Russian Energy Ministry said on Tuesday.

"Gas transit via Alekseyevka measuring station to the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been stopped. Gas is being provided to consumers from a tank of the Orenburg-Novopskov gas pipeline," the ministry wrote on its website.

The ministry added that no one was hurt in the accident.

"Today, on 23 February, an explosion has occurred at a main federal gas pipeline in Ileksky district. Rescuers, regional services, the specialists from the region's Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, gas engineers, environmental experts have headed to the scene. Now, the mobilization of forces is going on to mitigate the accident," the region's government said.

The government noted that, according to the preliminary information, the gas pipeline was operated Gazprom Transgaz Yekaterinburg.

"At 13.00 [09:00 GMT] the meeting of the interdepartmental headquarters will be held where necessary measures for the elimination of the emergency will be worked out. The operation of the services is being coordinated by Orenburg Region Governor Denis Pasler," the government added.

No one was hurt in the incident, the emergency ministry said.