Europe-bound gas supplies unaffected by Moldova pipeline blast

CHISINAU, November 8 (RIA Novosti) - Russian natural gas supplies to the Balkan states were not affected by an explosion on a section of the transit pipeline in south Moldova, the Moldovan Interior Ministry's emergencies department said on Sunday.

The blast occurred early on Sunday at a section of the trunk gas pipeline near the village of Saicy in the Causeni district. The fire has been put out, and no casualties have been reported, the emergencies department said.

Moldova-Gaz CEO Alexander Gusev said the damaged pipeline section would be repaired by Wednesday while gas transit to the Balkans would be continued through the remaining two sections.

"Gas transit to the Balkans would not be affected by the accident," Gusev said, adding that a pipe wear or a faulty weld seam was the likely cause of the explosion.