A fire broke out on the surface of the Pacific Ocean west of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Foreign media report that the fire in the middle of the ocean exploded after gas leaked from a submarine pipeline.
It took five hours for the fire to go out, according to oil company Pemex. Large orange flames rising from the water and resembling melted lava have been called “fiery eyes” by social media users because of the circular shape of the flame.
“EYE OF FIRE”
An underwater pipeline leak sparked a blaze in the Gulf of Mexico. A Mexican oil company says the fire originated from a gas leak in a submarine pipeline early Friday morning. #GulfOfMexicoFire pic.twitter.com/JDprGxrtwE
– # WVTM13 (@ WVTM13) July 3, 2021
Pemex stressed that no injuries were reported and that production was not affected as the fire broke out around 5:15 a.m. local time. The fire was completely extinguished by 10:30 p.m.