Officials: Gas pipeline explodes in Russia's St Petersburg, no casualties reported

The regional government said a gas pipeline exploded outside Saint Petersburg, Russia, on Saturday causing a large fire.

Huge flames could be seen from miles around.

According to the Russian Emergency Ministry, the explosion was caused by a pipeline failure and no one was hurt.

The pressure on the main gas pipeline has been reduced, and the nearby thermal power plant has been switched to fuel oil to ensure uninterrupted heat supply, Leningrad region Gov. Alexander Drozdenko wrote on Telegram.

Firefighters were working at the site of the fire.

According to Drozdenko, there is no threat of the fire spreading to residential areas.