A massive fire broke out in an oil pipeline in the Ivano-Frankivsk region of western Ukraine, injuring three people, emergency services said Saturday.

Unverified footage circulated on social media showed clouds of thick black smoke rising above what appeared to be a village.

The Ukrainian emergency service said, "At five o'clock in the evening (14:00 GMT), an oil pipeline (150 mm diameter) exploded near the village of Stremba in the Nadverna region."

She added that the accident led to an oil spill over an area of 100 square metres.

The cause of the fire was not immediately clear, but local media reported that a strong explosion had occurred.
Emergency services continued, "Ambulance teams are working at the scene."