Massive Fire In Gulf Of Mexico After Underwater Gas Pipeline Leakage

The fire was reportedly caused after a gas leak in an undersea pipeline of state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos or Pemex.

Early on Friday, massive fire broke out in the Gulf of Mexico, creating scary visuals of bright orange flames onto the water. The fire was reportedly caused after a gas leak in an undersea pipeline of state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos or Pemex, reports have said. Several media users pointed out the flames resembled molten lava and were dubbed “eye of fire”. Multiple journalists and publishers from Mexico shared visuals on Twitter as the fire raging in the middle of the ocean as boats sprayed streams of water on it and the clips quickly racked up millions of views.

This is the Gulf of Mexico.

A gas leak from an underwater pipeline caught fire, near to a Pemex oil platform.

It took nearly five hours to extinguish this extraordinary eye of fire. pic.twitter.com/En1CtZQ0xM

— Euronews Green (@euronewsgreen) July 3, 2021

Pemex, according to the report by Reuters, said it took more than five hours to completely extinguish the fire.

The fire began in the underwater pipeline which connects to a platform at the firm’s flagship ‘Ku Maloob Zaap’ oil development, Pemex officials familiar with the matter told Reuters. This flagship is situated just up from the Gulf of Mexico’s southern rim.

Following the gas leak that occurred around 5:15am local time, no injuries were reported in the incident and that oil production from its flagship project remained unhindered, Pemex clarified. Reuters reported that the flames were fully put out by 10:30am local time. Reuters report also quoted the company as saying that it will probe the cause of the fire. Pemex further highlighted it has also shut the 12-inch-diameter pipeline’s valves.

It used boats to pump water over the flames, although its workers said that nitrogen was also used, the company reportedly told Reuters.