ASHGABAT, June 5, (V7N) – Turkmenistan announced Thursday that it has substantially reduced the infamous gas fire known as the "Gateway to Hell", which has burned continuously in the Karakum Desert for over five decades.

First ignited in 1971 after Soviet scientists drilled into an underground gas pocket, the fiery crater has spewed methane for years, becoming both a symbol of the country and a significant environmental concern.

Irina Luryeva, a director at Turkmengaz, said the blaze has been reduced threefold, although no specific timeline was provided.

“Whereas before a huge glow from the blaze was visible from several kilometres away... today only a faint source of combustion remains,” she said at an environmental conference in Ashgabat.

Luryeva noted that several methane-capturing wells have been drilled around the site as part of mitigation efforts.

Despite being the world’s fourth-largest holder of gas reserves, Turkmenistan is also believed to be the largest emitter of methane from gas leaks, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) — a claim the government denies.

The reduction marks a rare environmental milestone for the reclusive Central Asian nation, as the site has long attracted tourists while raising alarm among climate scientists.

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