BAKU (Azerbaijan): An aerial view of the aftermath of a strong explosion in the Caspian Sea, 75 kilometers off the coast of Baku. AP
BAKU: 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 on 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”.