Russian gas pipeline break kills 2 workers

A natural gas pipeline ruptured while workers were digging nearby Monday, killing two people and injuring three others, an emergency official said.

The break occurred in the Samara region, 900 kilometers (550 miles) southeast of Moscow, said Emergency Situations Ministry spokeswoman Maria Ordynskaya.

She said the break in the pipeline did not cause an explosion or fire, and the cause of the deaths and injuries was not immediately clear.

The pipeline delivers gas to the cities of Samara, Togliatti and other towns in the area, and is 800 millimeters (31.5 inches) in diameter.

Associated Press