Oil spill from a ruptured pipeline in Southwestern Iran is contaminating large areas of coastal waters and farmland, local officials were quoted as saying by an official agency Monday, the latest incident in an oil industry suffering from years of underinvestment.

The governor of the local city of Deylam told the Islamic Republic News Agency that "crude oil spots [can be seen] on the sea in different parts of the coast, in particular the waterways of the coastal resort town of Deylam waterways, and the marine part of the harbor have been contaminated."

Another official said "the beach is suffering the kind of destruction that will take years to return to its initial state."

The most important activity in Deylam is tourism that attract thousands annually from around the country, he said.

Iran 's ageing petroleum infrastructure has faced several high profile incident in recent years. At least three people were killed and a dozen were injured when the well caught fire in the city of Naftshahr in May last year, following gas leakage at an oil well. It took 38 days to extinguish the blaze.

A gas pipeline explosion near Iran 's northeastern city of Mashhad in September also killed at least six people, with another 20 people hurt.

Iran is the second largest crude producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
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