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Lithuanian pipeline blast blamed on rupture not attack

14 January 2023 17:38 (UTC +04:00)

A rupture in an old natural gas pipe has emerged as the most likely cause of Friday's blast in the Lithuania-Latvia pipeline, the head of its operator said on Saturday, APA reports citing Reuters.

The explosion yielded flames up to 50 meters high, but there was no immediate evidence of an attack.

"The initial survey showed that a welding seam simply tore open", Nemunas Biknius, head of Lithuania's gas transmission operator Amber Grid, told BNS wire.

Police opened an investigation on Saturday into whether the pipeline was properly maintained but is not currently investigating whether it was damaged intentionally, BNS said.

The fire emanating from the more than 40-year old pipeline was put out on Friday but a highway next to the blast site remains closed.