An onshore natural gas pipeline taking gas to Thailand has been temporarily shut down following a possible explosion in Tanantharyi Region's Dawei District on the morning of 1 August, according to locals.

The alleged explosion happened near the Phwar Shin Ma Mountain in the Kanpauk area of Dawei District's Ye Phyu Township.

“I heard that the natural gas pipeline was blown up, we don't know exactly what happened yet", said a resident of Kanpuak.

The pipeline is owned by PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) a national petroleum exploration and production company based in Thailand that is a subsidiary of the Thai state-owned PTT oil and gas company. It transports gas to Thailand from the Zawtika gas field in the Gulf of Martaban, offshore from Tanintharyi Region.

According to local news reports, junta forces are tightening security around the site of the explosion and are inspecting the area. They are also searching and inspecting nearby villages and providing security for the PTTEP employees who are mending the pipeline.

Apparently, there were no injuries as a result of the explosion. No group has claimed responsibility yet.

But in a 1 August press release, PTT claimed that "the preliminary investigation found no trace of explosion or fire".

The company claimed that it had to temporarily shut down the pipeline because of a leak that caused a drop in gas pressure. It said: "To ensure operational safety, PTTEP has promptly isolated the gas pipeline and temporarily suspended gas delivery from the Zawtika Project to Thailand."

PTTEP said that it expects to complete the repairs on the pipeline in around two weeks.