28 die in Saudi gas plant fire

Saudi Arabia: Twenty-eight people were killed when a fire broke out in a gas pipeline near the Hawiyah gas plant in Saudi Arabia…

Saudi Arabia:Twenty-eight people were killed when a fire broke out in a gas pipeline near the Hawiyah gas plant in Saudi Arabia overnight, Saudi Aramco said.

The state oil company said the fire was caused by a gas leak in the pipeline around 30km (18 miles) from the natural gas liquids plant, but has since been brought under control. The death toll includes five Aramco employees.

Western diplomats said most of the dead appeared to be Asian workers along with at least one Lebanese national; no western victims had been identified. "It appears to be an accident rather than an act of sabotage," one diplomat said. - (Reuters)