MOSCOW, September 1 (RIA Novosti) - A section of a trunk gas pipeline in the south Russian republic of Ingushetia exploded in the early hours of Tuesday, but no one was injured, the emergencies ministry said.

A local police source told RIA Novosti that the cause of the blast is unknown, and that it may have been a terrorist attack.

A ministry spokesman said the fire near the town of Malgobek is still burning, and that eight fire engines and 27 firefighters are working at the scene.

The explosion has damaged a pipeline section running from Mozdok in the Russian republic of North Ossetia to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.