Blast rocks Azeri gas field in Caspian Sea

A strong explosion has shaken the Caspian Sea close to where Azerbaijan has extensive offshore oil and gas fields.

A column of fire rose from the blast late on Sunday, although the state oil company SOCAR insisted none of its platforms were damaged.

The cause of the explosion was not immediately determined, with SOCAR saying preliminary information indicated it was a mud volcano.

The Caspian Sea has a high concentration of such volcanoes, which regularly spew mud and flammable gas.

SOCAR spokesman Ibrahim Ahmadov was quoted by the Azerbaijani news agency APA as saying the blast took place about 10 kilometres from the Umid gas field, which is 75km off the coast of the capital, Baku.