Explosion in gas pipeline between Latvia and Lithuania

There has been an explosion in the main gas pipeline between Latvia and Lithuania. The cause is not yet known.

The company Amber Grid states in a press release that the incident happened in the Pasvali district at around 17:00 on Friday.

– Initial information indicates that no one was injured. The explosion occurred some distance away from residential areas and the fire was extinguished by the fire brigade, which arrived at the scene immediately, the company writes.

50 meter high flames

The police say to the Lithuanian media LRT that flames up to 50 meters high were seen.

Eyewitnesses say, according to local media, that there is a petrol station very close to the crime scene, and that the air temperature in the area is around 20 degrees.

The police are patrolling the area around the fire.

Two pipes – one damaged

The gas pipelines where the fire started are used to send gas to northern parts of Lithuania as well as to Latvia.

According to the company, the pipe system consists of two parallel pipes, and initial information suggests that the explosion took place in one of these. The other pipe is not damaged. This is confirmed by the Ministry of Energy in Lithuania.

The gas supply through the damaged pipe was stopped immediately, but the gas supply has already been secured for customers in the Pasvali district through the other pipe, the company said.

– Sorry for the incident

– We apologize for this incident in the gas pipe system. We immediately began clarifying the circumstances surrounding the incident, and ensuring gas supply to customers, says managing director Nemunas Biknius in the press release.

The directors also write that the company is now working on managing safety and the consequences of the fire.

– We immediately informed the authorities, the energy distributor and the city services in Pasvalis about the situation. We will come back with details about the incident when we have more, he says.

The Ministry of Energy in Lithuania writes on its Facebook page that work is being done at full speed to control the incident and secure the site. They also write that no one should have been injured and that it happened outside the residential areas.

Village evacuated

Main gas pipelines are potentially dangerous installations, and the gas company asks residents in the area to be careful where the line is located.

The village of Valakėliės in the Pasvalis district has been decided to be evacuated. About 200 people live in the village.

Local authorities are asking residents to stay indoors and close windows until the fire is under control.

The mayor of the Pasvalis district tells local media that the director of administration Povilas Balčiūnas, who is responsible for the emergency management, has gone to the scene of the fire.