PKK Claims Saturday's Gas Pipeline Explosion

[Robbien]

The pro-PKK Firat News Agency reported on Sunday that the PKK terrorist organization had claimed responsibility for the attack on the pipeline. The report went on to say that the attack was a "warning" to both Turkey and Iran, which it said were carrying out joint military operations against the PKK in northern Iraq.

Late on Saturday, a major explosion had hit the natural gas transfer unit of the Turkish Natural Gas Pipeline Company (BOTAS), which carries natural gas from Iran to Turkey, near the village of Gecitalan. Firefighters fought for four hours to bring the fire that broke out following the blast under control.

. . .

The blast was so strong that it was heard nearly 40 kilometers away. The flames reached heights of up to 80 meters.

Nearly 200 meters of the pipeline were blown up and almost eight million cubic meters of gas, worth an estimated $2.5 million, was burnt. Repair works are still continuing.

The fire had also caused power lines in the vicinity to melt resulting in a blackout in the city of Agri.

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