'Ocean on fire': Huge blaze erupts in Gulf of Mexico, extinguished hours later

The unusual fire from gas leak has been extinguished after a five-hour long operation, informed Mexican state oil company Pemex.

The company stated that there were no injuries and production from the oil platform in the vicinity was unaffected.

Reportedly, the fire began at 5:15 AM local time and was completely put out by 10:30 AM. The blaze arose in underwater pipeline that connects to a platform at Pemex's flagship Ku Maloob Zaap oil development.

The gas leak that triggered the fire occurred at 78 metres from the surface.

As authorities were alerted, three boats were seen in action putting out the flames and used liquid nitrogen to control the fire.

Videos from the scene showed bright right flames on the water surface, resembling lava pouring out of an underwater volcano.

? Incendio registrado en aguas del Golfo de México

A 400 metros de la plataforma Ku-Charly (dentro del Activo Integral de Producción Ku Maloob Zaap)

Una válvula de una línea submarina habría reventado y provocado el incendio

Esta fuera de control hace 8 horas pic.twitter.com/KceOTDU1kX

— Manuel Lopez San Martin (@MLopezSanMartin) July 2, 2021

? Sobre el incendio registrado en aguas del Golfo de México, en la Sonda de Campeche, a unos metros de la plataforma Ku-Charly (dentro del Activo Integral de Producción Ku Maloob Zaap)

Tres barcos han apoyado para sofocar las llamas pic.twitter.com/thIOl8PLQo

— Manuel Lopez San Martin (@MLopezSanMartin) July 2, 2021

Ku Maloob Zaap is located just up from the southern rim of the Gulf of Mexico. It is Pemex's biggest crude oil production facility, accounting for more than 40 per cent of its nearly 1.7 million barrels of daily output.