A gas pipeline in Russia's volatile North Caucasus republic of Dagestan was attacked by a blast on Tuesday, resulting in a fire and supply disruptions, Russian news agencies reported.
A bomb went off around 8:09 p.m. Moscow time (1709 GMT) at the 496th kilometer of the Mozdok-Kazimagomed pipeline in Dagestan's Derbent area, a
source with the local gas company was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass.
Gas deliveries to 11 towns, including Derbent, Dagestanskiye Ogni and Mamedkala, were suspended, the source said.
A suspected bomb was found near the pipeline earlier in the day, Itar-Tass and Interfax quoted the regional department of the Federal Security Service (FSB) as saying.
FSB officials said the spot had been cordoned off and the inspection of the object was delayed until dawn.
Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus republics, particularly Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia, have seen an upsurge in militant violence lately. Five police were killed last week in a suicide bombing in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan.