An Iranian official says that a gas pipeline has exploded in northeast Iran, injuring 16 workers.
The official IRNA news agency quoted the director of the National Iranian Gas Engineering and Development Company, Ali Reza Gharibi, as saying the blaze broke out near the northeastern city of Mashhad Friday after an earth moving machine lost balance in the mountainous terrain and struck the pipeline.
Firefighters needed three hours to extinguish the fire.
Gharibi said six workers who suffered burns were rushed to the hospital by helicopter.
He said repairs will be completed within 48 hours and a crisis committee is investigating the incident.
