By 
A suspected attack on a pipeline in Syria caused a
nationwide blackout overnight, the state news agency quoted authorities as
saying Monday.
nationwide blackout overnight, the state news agency quoted authorities as
saying Monday.
According to SANA, the electricity
minister said a pipeline explosion in the Damascus area late Sunday “led
to an electricity blackout across Syria“.
minister said a pipeline explosion in the Damascus area late Sunday “led
to an electricity blackout across Syria“.
The oil and mineral resources
ministry said the explosion of the gas pipeline, between Adra and al-Dhamir,
was “the result of a terrorist attack”, but provided no further
details.
ministry said the explosion of the gas pipeline, between Adra and al-Dhamir,
was “the result of a terrorist attack”, but provided no further
details.
SANA published pictures of a
nighttime blaze it said was caused by the explosion, followed by images after
dawn of a mangled land pipeline missing a large chunk.
nighttime blaze it said was caused by the explosion, followed by images after
dawn of a mangled land pipeline missing a large chunk.
Damascus residents told AFP they
woke up on Monday with no electricity in their homes.
woke up on Monday with no electricity in their homes.
The electricity minister said some
power stations had been reconnected and power provided to vital infrastructure,
adding that by dawn electricity was gradually returning to several provinces.
power stations had been reconnected and power provided to vital infrastructure,
adding that by dawn electricity was gradually returning to several provinces.
The incident was the latest in a
string of alleged attacks against the government’s energy infrastructure.
string of alleged attacks against the government’s energy infrastructure.
In January, Syria’s government said
divers had planted explosives on offshore pipelines in the Mediterranean Sea of
the Banias refinery, but that the damage had not halted operations.
divers had planted explosives on offshore pipelines in the Mediterranean Sea of
the Banias refinery, but that the damage had not halted operations.
Syria’s war has
killed more than 380,000 people and displaced more than half the pre-war
population since it started in 2011 with the repression of anti-government
protests.
killed more than 380,000 people and displaced more than half the pre-war
population since it started in 2011 with the repression of anti-government
protests.
It has also caused the Damascus
regime to lose control of key oil fields, and caused state hydrocarbon revenues
to plummet by billions of dollars.
regime to lose control of key oil fields, and caused state hydrocarbon revenues
to plummet by billions of dollars.
(AFP)
