Emergency services in Azerbaijan on Monday were gauging the environmental fallout of a mud volcano eruption in the Caspian Sea, the latest occurrence of the natural phenomenon in the oil-rich nation.

The eruption occurred Sunday evening near the island of Dashlyg in the vicinity of offshore oil and gas fields, with plumes of fire reaching 100 metres (330 feet) above the sea, Azerbaijan's national seismological centre said in a statement.

The Caucasus nation's emergency service said "helicopters are conducting flights above the Caspian Sea to study the eruption's impact".

"There is no threat to oil and gas infrastructure or the lives of people," it added.

Video distributed by the emergency services Monday showed smouldering flames surrounded by brown mud deposits in Caspian waters.

That was hours after amateur footage circulating social media Sunday evening showed a glowing fireball above the sea's surface.

Azerbaijan's State Oil and Gas Company (SOCAR) said the eruption had not damaged infrastructure, which "continues operating normally".

Azerbaijan is home to nearly a third of the world's 1,700 mud volcanoes, both underground and underwater, according to a study by Russia's Institute of Geology.

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Philippines on alert for another volcano eruption as thousands flee
Manila (AFP) July 4, 2021
Philippine scientists warned Sunday a volcano south of Manila could erupt again "anytime soon" as toxic gas emissions hit a record high and thousands more people in vulnerable communities left their homes. Taal volcano, which sits in a picturesque lake, has been discharging sulphur dioxide for the past week, creating a haze over Manila and several surrounding provinces, and prompting health warnings. Nearly 4,500 people have left their homes since authorities called for evacuations of high-risk ... read more