Oil pipeline resumes service after Dalian spill, blaze

A China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) pipeline that leaked and caused a huge fire in the coastal city of Dalian on Monday evening resumed normal operations at 3pm on Wednesday, according to the company.

Rescue work has almost been completed, with no casualties caused by the incident. Meanwhile, life in nearby communities has also returned to normal, the CNPC said in a statement on its website.

Initial investigation showed that the pipeline was damaged by the drilling of local construction workers laying cables, the statement said.

The CNPC said that findings from local authorities showed the spill has not polluted local running water networks, but the company said it will make further efforts to completely clean pollutants from the site.

Local authorities said earlier on Wednesday that five people of the Yuelin Construction Engineering Company of Dalian are in police custody following the crude oil spill.

It flowed into the urban sewage network and fire broke out at the exit of the urban pipelines. Residents were evacuated. The valves on both ends of the oil pipeline were shut after the leak.

Firefighters managed to put out the flames at 1am on Tuesday.