A gas pipeline connecting Lithuania and Latvia was hit by an explosion on Friday.
“On Friday at around 5pm an explosion occurred in the Amber Grid gas pipeline in Pasvalys District,” Lithuania gas transmission operator Amber Grid said in a statement. “According to initial data, no people were injured. The explosion took place away from residential buildings,” it said, adding that firefighters were extinguishing the blaze. Amber Grid CEO Nemunas Biknius said they were investigating the cause of the blast.
The explosion was reported in the Lithuanian village of Pasvalio Vienkiemiai, some 180km north of Vilnius. The village of around 250 people was evacuated.
“There were unexpected sounds, it seemed as if planes were flying somewhere low — a high-pressure gas pipeline exploded … a couple of kilometers from Pasvalys. The flames are shooting up to a high altitude,” Pasvalys District Mayor Gintautas Gegužinskas told LRT RADIO.
The pipeline supplies gas to the northern part of Lithuania and delivers gas to Latvia.
