Blasts have hit two oil pipelines in the port city of Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province. No casualties have been reported. President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have given instructions over the incident.

Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang has arrived in the site to direct rescue work. The government is sending special jets carrying fire foam to fight the blaze.

The incident took place on Friday evening, when an explosion struck one of the pipelines, causing the adjacent smaller pipe to explode. Both then caught fire. The fire has been under control as of 5 a.m. Saturday morning. Rescuers are still monitoring the environment.

An oil tanker that was unloading oil in the harbor at the time of the explosion, managed to escape the scene. The pipelines provide links between oil ships and land tankers. Local authorities are investigating the incident.

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