The surface of the ocean appeared to go up in flames after a gas leak from an underwater pipeline.
Flames resembling molten lava were caught on camera after the blaze broke out in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, in the early hours of Friday morning.
Mexican state-owned petroleum company Pemex, which runs the pipeline, said the fire was extinguished after more than five hours and no one was injured or evacuated during the incident.
The alarm was sounded at around 5.15am after gas began leaking out of a 12-inch diameter pipeline which connects a nearby platform to Pemex's flagship Ku Maloob Zaap oil production facility.
In a statement, the company said it will "carry out a root cause analysis of this incident".
It added: "The incident was dealt with immediately when the security protocols were activated and with the accompaniment of nearby firefighting vessels.
"In addition, the interconnected valves in the pipeline were closed, extinguishing the fire and the gas release, ending the contingency (plan) around 10.45 am and restoring normal operating conditions. No injuries or evacuees are reported."
According to Reuters, a Pemex incident report states: "The turbomachinery of Ku Maloob Zaap's active production facilities were affected by an electrical storm and heavy rains."
Angel Carrizales, head of Mexico's oil safety regulator, tweeted to say the fire was "controlled by personnel from Pemex" and "the event did not generate any spill", but did not explain what was burning on the surface of the ocean.
Dramatic aerial footage of the blaze has gone viral and people around the world have reacted on Twitter.
Former chief crown prosecutor Nazir Afzal wrote: "This is no big budget disaster movie This is the Gulf of Mexico on fire because an oil pipeline ruptured.
"Humanity is the custodian of this planet, but we behave as it’s destroyer."
It comes after petrol prices jumped to their highest level in more than seven years, with average pump prices reaching 132.19p on Wednesday.
The last time petrol was higher was in October 2013 when it cost 132.28p. Diesel is currently averaging at 134.32p — its highest rate since June 2019.
It comes as investors pushed up the cost of crude oil ahead of this week’s meeting of the world’s biggest producers. A report said output could start rising in August.
