Pipeline fire in Venezuela almost completely extinguished, sources say

CARACAS (Reuters) - A fire that followed a pipeline explosion at a natural gas complex in Venezuela and has forced regions of the country to enforce tougher power rationing was almost completely extinguished on Wednesday, according to three sources.

The accident, which left at least five workers injured on Monday, led to the shutdown of the Muscar gas complex in the country's Eastern region, operated by PDVSA, which distributes gas for reinjection to oilfields and domestic supply.

The balls of fire seen at the beginning of the week at the complex were no longer visible on Wednesday, people from the neighboring towns of Musipan and Potrerito said. But black smoke was still present, they added.

The state oil company is trying to avoid widespread scarcity of natural gas as a consequence of the facility's paralysis.

"A multi-disciplinary team, led by PDVSA's CEO Hector Obregon, is evaluating strategies to reduce the impact of the explosion that hit the 26-inch gas line Muscar-Soto," the state oil company said late on Monday.

However, in northeastern Nueva Esparta state, where many hotels and resorts host tourists on the Margarita island, state utility Corpoelec on Tuesday began a power rationing plan, cutting supply for of up to 8 hours per day due to insufficient gas to generate electricity, it said.

In other regions of the South American country, existing power rationing plans have been extended in recent days, according to witnesses and sources.

(Reporting by Caracas newsroom, writing by Marianna Parraga; editing by Barbara Lewis)

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