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RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - An accidental explosion and fire Sunday on a natural gas pipeline in eastern Saudi Arabia killed 28 people and left 12 missing, Saudi officials said.

An unspecified number were injured in the blaze, which did not disrupt gas supplies, Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said at a summit of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries in Riyadh.

National oil company Saudi Aramco said the fire broke out just after midnight while contract workers were linking a new pipe to the line during maintenance. Five Aramco employees were among the 28 killed, said the company, which did not provide details about the other workers.

Aramco is the world's largest oil producer. The accident occurred on a pipeline about 19 miles from its Hawiyah plant, which produces 310,000 barrels a day of ethane and liquefied natural gas.

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