
A part of a gas pipeline is seen on fire near the northern city of al-Arish April 27, 2011.
It was the second attack since early February on the pipeline, which supplies natural gas to Israel and Jordan, local cement plants and a power station.
The attackers targeted a metering station near the North Sinai town of el-Arish. The station is owned by Gasco, Egypt's gas transport company which is a subsidiary of the national gas company EGAS.
Witnesses said a huge fireball rose above the ruptured line after the blast and the flames surged up to 20 metres high, state news agency MENA reported.
"The fire is still ongoing and it'll be at least three to four days before it goes out, after which authorities can begin repairing the pipeline damage and then resume the gas flow," the source said.