Egypt: Blast hits gas pipeline in North Sinai

CAIRO (AA) - An explosion occurred Thursday along the main natural gas pipeline in North Sinai province in northeastern Egypt, according to media reports.

A blaze broke out on the pipeline at the village of al-Touloul, east of the coastal city of Bir al-Abd, according to the Al-Shorouk newspaper, citing an anonymous source.

The source said the Egyptian Natural Gas Company GASCO "dealt with the incident by securing the lines and closing the control valves to control the fire."

Fire fighters were dispatched to contain the fire.

No information was disclosed regarding the cause of the blast and there was no official comment from Egyptian authorities.

A similar explosion occurred on the pipeline in February and the attack was claimed by the Daesh/ISIS terror group. ​​​​​​​