Al-Qaeda militants are suspected to be behind the explosion of an oil pipeline operated by the Korea National Oil Corporation in Yemen on Thursday.

Local authorities say a group of armed men bombed the pipeline by placing an explosive under it. Fingers are being pointed at Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which is based in southern parts of Yemen.

The pipeline in the province of Sabwa was shut down due to damage from the blast, but no casualties have been reported. Witnesses say it took more than six hours to put out the resulting fire.

The Korea National Oil Corporation produced eight-thousand barrels of oil daily in Sabwa and transported it to ports via the 200-kilometer-long pipeline.