CAIRO (Reuters) – A massive fire broke out in Egypt’s Shuqair-Mostorod crude oil pipeline on Tuesday, injuring at least 12 people, the health ministry said.

The pipeline runs along a major highway on the outskirts of Cairo and a spark caused by cars driving along the road set crude oil leaking from the pipe on fire, a petroleum ministry statement said.

The pipeline’s valves were immediately closed in the area of the fire and the fire was brought under control, the petroleum ministry added.

Videos circulating on social media showed thick plumes of smoke and burning cars along the side of the road.

(Reporting by Mahmoud Mourad, Ehab Farouk, Nayera Abdallah; Writing by Nadine Awadalla; Editing by Jane Merriman and Nick Macfie)

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