Ankara - An explosion in south-eastern Turkey late Wednesday night destroyed parts of a pipeline carrying oil from the Iraqi city of Kirkuk to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhun, the Anadolu news agency reported Thursday.

The explosion in the province of Sanliurfa was believed to have been caused by a quick change of pressure inside the pipeline, Anadolu said.

Alerted by locals to the explosion, authorities turned off the flow of as oil spilled as far as two kilometres from the scene of the blast. (dpa)