Azerbaijan: Strong explosion reported in Caspian Sea near Umid gas field south of Baku late July 4

Event

A strong explosion occurred in the Caspian Sea in the vicinity of the Umid gas field off shore from the town of Alat late July 4. The cause of the blast remains unclear; however, authorities with the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) assert that there have been no accidents at any of the company's drilling rigs and that all of its facilities working the Umid gas field are operating normally. While some sources have suggested the incident may have been a mud volcano eruption, according to experts from the Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences, there are no known mud volcanos in the area where the explosion took place.

Localized maritime traffic disruptions, including to services between Umid gas field rigs and the Azerbaijani mainland, are possible until investigators identify the cause of the incident and determine that no further explosions are imminent.

Advice

Heed the instructions of local authorities. Confirm transport schedules if traveling by maritime vessel operating in the area of the explosion.