Although the official cause of the explosion has not yet been determined, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Ecology has said that the explosion could have been caused by a volcanic eruption.
A powerful explosion was seen in the Caspian Sea on Sunday, and some sources initially suggested that it could be linked to a nearby coastal oil platform.
However, this speculation was later refuted by the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), which issued a statement saying that no accidents were reported at offshore platforms.
“There were no accidents at the offshore platforms and industrial facilities under direct control of SOCAR, and work continues as usual. If any additional information appears, we will inform the public,” the company said.
The country’s Environment Ministry said the incident is under investigation and that a volcanic eruption is the preliminary cause.
Video clips circulated on the Internet show a violent explosion in the sea, with flames and smoke rising from the water. Some of the clips were taken from the shoreline, while others appear to have been taken from aboard a ship.
