Four workers suffered breathing difficulties while repairing a fuel pipeline near Talkalakh in rural Homs on Thursday, Syrian Civil Defense said, according to Syria TV.
Two received treatment at the scene and two were taken to Talkalakh hospital. The Homs-Tartous highway was closed in both directions at the time of Thursday’s report, with traffic diverted away from the leak near Hadida.
The Syrian Petroleum Company said crews isolated the damaged Baniyas-Homs pipeline and began repairs. Its media director, Ody al-Satouf, told SANA that the puncture resulted from an attempted theft. That account was not independently verified.
An engineering official said teams responded after a report at 4:30 a.m., closed valves on either side and equipped workers with protective suits and oxygen cylinders because of the risks from the leaking gasoline.
The reports gave no timetable for reopening the highway or a further update on the workers’ condition.
Sources: SANA 1; SANA 2; Syria TV
Baniyas oil pumping station. File photo: SANA.
