Algerian pipeline explosion injures three people

Safety control measures may have been at fault when a recent gas explosion rocked a petrochemical plant in Algeria.

According to the APS news agency, the blast occurred on Wednesday afternoon (March 17th) at the CNPK facility in Skikda.

As a result of the detonation, three people required medical assistance - two of which were security professionals who were treated at the site, while the third was taken to hospital.

Following the incident a fire broke out, with the northern African country's Civil Protection noting that this is now under control, with efforts now focused on cooling down equipment.

Initial reports suggest it was caused by a hydrogen leak mixing with methane in a pipeline of the plant's ethylene unit.

Poor safety regulations were recently suggested to be the root cause of a pipeline gas explosion at a Connecticut power plant, the Hartford Courant reported.

The catastrophe killed six people and harmed 26 others last month.