Report: Latvia-Lithuania Gas Pipeline Explodes

Facts

• A gas pipeline connecting Lithuania and Latvia exploded in northern Lithuania on Friday, though Nemunas Biknius, the chief executive of the Lithuanian gas transmission operator Amber Grid, said they so far 'do not see any malign cause' but will investigate.¹
• A raging fire was put out at the blast site in Panevezys county, and the gas supply was temporarily cut after the explosion damaged one of two parallel pipelines, though it was eventually restored.²
• Flames rose some 160 feet in the air and could initially be seen from as far as 11 miles away. There were reportedly no fatalities or injuries in the nation that's situated on the Baltic Sea and borders Russia.³
• Lithuanian broadcaster LRT reported that the nearby village of Valakėliai — with a population of roughly 250 residents — was evacuated by police as a precautionary measure.⁴
• The explosion comes after the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream gas pipelines — also situated in the Baltic Sea — were damaged by explosions last year.²

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²Al Jazeera, ³India Today and ⁴Sky News.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by BBC News. Though the Lithuanian government will conduct a thorough investigation into any and all possible causes of this explosion, it so far looks to have been technical in nature and not an outside attack. Investigators will also look into the potential connection between the blast and the recent maintenance work the pipeline had undergone.
• Narrative B, as provided by Breitbart. With the investigation in its infancy, no conclusions should be drawn as to what caused this explosion, especially after the Nord Stream pipeline investigation conducted by Sweden found traces of explosive material at the site of that gas leak. After quickly blaming Russia for that incident, the mainstream narrative eventually had to backtrack, which is why we must wait for all the facts regarding this case.