The fire on the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline erupted near the town of Midyat in southeastern Turkey, it said, citing the provincial governor.

No on was immediately available at the governor's office or at the state pipeline operator Botas to confirm the report.

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a Kurdish separatist group, has claimed responsibility for attacks on the 960-kilometre link, which carries about a quarter of Iraqi oil exports, in the past.