In a dramatic development, Turkmenistan on Thursday said it had significantly reduced the famous Darvaza gas crater fire, popularly referred to as the "Gateway to Hell," which has been raging day and night for over half a century. The fire, far out in the Karakum Desert, started in 1971 after Soviet researchers inadvertently drilled into an underground gas reserve by mistake. To try to prevent the spread of methane, the gas was ignited, a fire that has since gone on to become one of the world's longest-lasting man-made blazes. Turkmen officials say the fire has now been "threefold reduced," but the government did not indicate the precise time frame of this reduction. At an Ashgabat environmental conference, Irina Luryeva, director at the state-owned energy company Turkmengaz, explained that visible flames emanating from the crater have decreased significantly. “Whereas before a huge glow from the blaze was visible from several kilometres away, today only a faint source of combustion remains,” Luryeva told news agency AFP.

She went on to say that several wells have been sunk around the crater to trap venting methane, part of Turkmenistan's overall commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit environmental degradation.

Methane Emissions Under Watch

Turkmenistan is thought to have the fourth-largest gas reserves in the world. But it has been subject to increasing international pressure about methane releases. The country is the largest emitter of methane from gas leaks in the world, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), a fact the local authorities refute. According to a recent Guardian report, methane leaks from only two of Turkmenistan's large fossil fuel fields are adding more to global warming each year than all of the United Kingdom's carbon emissions. In contrast to its environmental hazards, the Darvaza gas crater was among the most popular tourist spots in Turkmenistan. It is named "Gateway to Hell" because of its glowing appearance at night.

The government's move to finally put out the fire comes as global pressure mounts on producers of fossil fuels to reduce hazardous emissions, especially methane, a gas which is much more powerful than carbon dioxide in speeding up climate change.

The Fire That Refused To Die

The crater was initially formed in 1971 when a Soviet drill rig fell into a gassy cavern. Scientists feared the escape of toxic gases and ignited it with the hope that it would last only a few days. It burned for over 50 years instead, serving as a symbol of human mistake and a reminder of neglect of the environment. Turkmenistan's most recent action marks a change in the isolated country's game when it comes to climate matters.