Azerbaijan mud volcano triggers huge blast | The Daily Update

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A huge explosion has been seen off the coast of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea, sending plumes of black smoke and flames into the sky.

The blast, which erupted in an area full of oil and gas fields on Sunday, was caused by a mud volcano, the government says. None of the oil farms were damaged and no-one was hurt, it added.

Mud volcanoes are formed underground by water, minerals and flammable gasses, which can ignite when they erupt. Videos shared online showed a fireball and smoke rising above the sea on Sunday.

The blast took place about 10km (6 miles) from the Umid gas field, which is 75km (45 miles) off the coast of Azerbaijan's capital Baku, state oil company Socar spokesman Ibrahim Ahmadoc said.

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