The gas pipeline connecting Lithuania and Latvia blew up, after Nord Stream the sabotage hypothesis is being examined
Posted on: 14-01-2023 00:17
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A pipeline exploded in Lithuania, so far no casualties have been reported. The news comes from the national press, which reports that the episode happened at 5 p.m. in Pasvalio Vienkiemiai, Pasvalys district. Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks He tweeted that the hypothesis of the is not excluded sabotage.
Gas pipeline between Lithuania and Latvia explodes: what happened?
As the Lithuanian broadcaster “LRT” points out, no casualties were reported at the site of the explosion. The accident happened around 5 p.m. in the north of the country, in the village of Pasvalio Vienkiemiai.
In a neighboring village, Valakėliai, the 250 inhabitants were all evacuated. The cause of the explosion is not yet known.
Gāzesvada sprādziens Lietuvā ir rūpīgi jāizvērtē, nevar izslēgt pat diversiju.
— Artis Pabriks (@Pabriks) January 13, 2023
According to the first news from the local press, flames were born from the explosion that would reach 50 meters. The pipeline is managed by operator Amber Grid, who told the media through a spokesman: “We are investigating the cause of the explosion.”
The hypothesis of sabotage
The Latvian Foreign Minister wrote on Twitter shortly after the incident: “The gas pipeline explosion in Lithuania needs to be carefully investigated, but sabotage cannot be ruled out”.
But shortly thereafter, the spokesman for Amber Grid said, Nemunas BikniusHe added: “Based on the initial assessment, we don’t see any malignant causes, but the investigations will cover all possible options. We see no signs of any potential outside impact.”
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For safety reasons, gas supply through the damaged pipeline has been halted, but supply continues through the parallel pipeline.
This gas pipeline connects Poland with the Baltic countries and was built in 1978. Recently, Biknius reports, maintenance work has been carried out and for this reason the hypothesis of a connection with the explosion is also being considered.
The connection with Nord Stream
Following the incident, it is natural for many to find a link to the Nord Stream explosion in October, an episode for which those responsible have not yet been identified.
Given the war in Ukraine and energy links in Europe, it is therefore natural to think of a Russian hand in the gas pipeline explosion in Lithuania.
At the moment there is no evidence that the path of sabotage is the right one, but new elements could emerge in the next few hours.
Photo source: Getty Images