Damascus gas explosion leads to electricity cuts throughout Syria

An explosion, affecting the Arab Gas Pipeline between the northeastern Damascus suburbs of Adra and al-dhamir, has disrupted electricity supplies throughout Syria, Syrian state media reported. The Arab Gas Pipeline extends from Egypt into Jordan and Syria.

According to SANA, Syria’s official agency, Electricity Minister Muhammed Zuhair Kharbutli said the explosion was the sixth time this pipeline had been targeted in this region. The explosion struck the line that feeds three power stations in southern Syria.

Kharbutli said technicians were working to fix the problem and electricity would be restored shortly. The oil minister, Ali Ghanem, stated the explosion could have been a “terrorist act” but he failed to elaborate.