Explosion, fire reported near oil field in Caspian Sea

Azerbaijani state media reported that the explosion had not hit the country's oil infrastructure.

By TZVI JOFFRE
Updated: JULY 4, 2021 23:59
An Azerbaijan state flag flutters in the wind on an oil platform in the Caspian Sea (photo credit: DAVID MDZINARISHVILI/REUTERS)
An Azerbaijan state flag flutters in the wind on an oil platform in the Caspian Sea
(photo credit: DAVID MDZINARISHVILI/REUTERS)
A large explosion and fire were reported in the Caspian Sea on Sunday evening, with footage shared on social media showing a fireball which could be seen from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. It is unclear what caused the explosion.

Ibrahim Akhmedov, a spokesperson for Azerbaijan's state energy company, SOCAR, told the Russian news agency TASS that the company believes that the explosion was likely "an eruption of a mud volcano."
Azerbaijan's Ministry of Emergency Situations announced on Sunday that it had not received any information about an emergency at offshore oil infrastructure or industrial facilities in the country, according to Azerbaijan's state news agency.
The ministry is investigating the incident and stated that additional information would be provided to the public.
The Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company announced on Sunday night that no explosion had occurred on any of its ships.


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