Huge fire after Moscow gas pipeline blast

[Coventina]

Source: AFP

MOSCOW (AFP) — Moscow on Sunday suffered its worst fire in decades when a gas pipeline blast sent flames bursting into the sky and raised new concerns about the security of Russia's ageing energy infrastructure.

The fire produced spectacular plumes of yellow flames reaching 200 metres (600 feet) high and huge clouds billowing smoke were visible against the night sky, television pictures showed.

Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who rushed to the scene, said that five people had been injured in the fire, including one man who received 35-percent burns, but there had been no fatalities.

The cause of the fire was almost certainly technical in nature, he added, virtually ruling out the possibility of foul play.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i6GtxU51N9P7bA0pC6k8o4pfcVYA

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There are some dramatic photos on the internets.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Shit! Moscow was a disaster when I lived there in '93 Must be worse now. nt

[MuseRider]

2. It was a mess

in 97 when I was there but looked to be getting a little better, at least that is what we were told. Still, it was pretty shabby then.

[Sandrine for you]

3. In this picture you can see the people fleeing of Moscow because of the fire.

[underpants]

4. How's that capitalism working out for you Ivan?

privatization has tons of costs they did tell you about at the beginning huh?

[Captain Hilts]

5. This shit happened under Communism also. nt

[ohio2007]

6. Ya pull troops out of Chechnya and this is the thanks you get

:sarcasm:


more shoddy work practices is the root cause.

followed up with a vodka chaser of course.