MOSCOW, May 10 (RIA Novosti) - A fire that broke out after a natural gas pipeline exploded in west Moscow early on Sunday has been completely extinguished, a spokesman for the Moscow branch of the Russian Emergencies Ministry said.

"The fire at the gas pipeline on Ozernaya Street in west Moscow has been liquidated. Work continues to cool the metal pipe," Yevgeny Bobylev said, adding that the blaze was put out 15 hours after it had erupted.

The pipeline exploded shortly after Victory Day celebrations, sending flames 100-300 meters into the air. Five people were treated for burns and some 70 cars were damaged by the blaze, the ministry said.

Russia's Investigative Committee earlier ruled out the version of a terrorist act.

Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov who arrived at the site of the explosion said the incident was of technogenic nature. It was acknowledged as Moscow's largest fire since World War II.

Some 100,000 telephone users were left without telephone and Internet communication, after the fire destroyed or damaged telephone cables, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said.