Yangon: A fire broke out at an oil pipeline in central Myanmar, killing at least 12 people and injuring at least 30, a local government official said on Monday.
The official, based in Pakokku, about 300 miles (500 km) northwest of the commercial capital, Yangon, told Reuters the fire broke out on Sunday in an oil pipeline from the Letpando oil well south of Pakkoku.
"So far, at least a dozen have died ... Thirty-one had to be sent to hospital as inpatients and the death toll is expected to go up," added the official, who asked not to be identified.
The official said investigations into the cause of the fire were continuing.
Officials at the Ministry of Energy refused to give any information the incident.
It was unclear whether the fire would affect Chinese pipeline building plans in its southwestern neighbour.
China is currently building an oil pipeline from Myanmar to its southwestern province of Yunnan, designed to deliver 12 million tonnes of crude oil a year. It is scheduled to be completed in 2012.
In related news, Sunday saw another massive explosion at the same Xingang terminal in Dalian, scene of China's worst ever oil spill this July. No one was reported injured in this latest mishap and authorities say the fire was contained by Monday morning. [26/10/10]
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