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{{Short description|Explosion on 13 January 2023}}
{{Infobox event
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|map_caption=Area around Pasvalys District|type=[[Gas explosion]]
|motive= Accidental (presumed)<ref name=bbc>{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Matt |title=Lithuanian gas pipeline hit by large explosion |url=
|participants= Under investigation
|reported deaths=0
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On 13 January 2023, an explosion occurred on the [[Lithuania–Latvia Interconnection]] in [[Pasvalio Vienkiemiai]], [[Pasvalys District Municipality]], [[Lithuania]].<ref name=lrt>{{cite web |title=Dujotiekio sprogimas Pasvalio rajone: ugnis lokalizuota, gyventojai raginami užsidaryti langus ir likti namuose |url=
At 16:57, Police department of Pasvalys District received the call about the fire in Pasvalio Vienkiemiai village.<ref>{{cite web |title= Lietuvā netālu no Latvijas eksplodējis gāzes vads; remonts var aizņemt nedēļas (plkst. 20.45) |url= https://www.delfi.lv/news/arzemes/foto-lietuva-netalu-no-latvijas-eksplodejis-gazes-vads-remonts-var-aiznemt-nedelas-plkst-2045.d?id=55125856 |website= delfi.lv |publisher= [[Delfi (web portal)|DELFI LV]] |language= lv |date= 13 January 2023 |access-date= 14 January 2023 |archive-date= 13 January 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230113203856/https://www.delfi.lv/news/arzemes/foto-lietuva-netalu-no-latvijas-eksplodejis-gazes-vads-remonts-var-aiznemt-nedelas-plkst-2045.d?id=55125856 |url-status= live }}</ref> Flames reached up to 50 m in height and could be seen at a distance of at least 17 km. As a precaution the entire village of [[Valakėliai]] was evacuated.<ref name=lrt /> As a result Lithuania stopped natural gas transit to Latvia, while consumers in northern Lithuania were supplied by alternative pipelines.<ref name=delfi>{{cite web |title= Pasvalio rajone sprogo dujotiekis: pliūptelėjo apie 50 metrų aukščio liepsna |url= https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/crime/pasvalio-rajone-sprogo-dujotiekis-pliuptelejo-apie-50-metru-aukscio-liepsna.d?id=92270881 |website= delfi.lt |publisher= [[Delfi (web portal)|DELFI LT]] |language= lt |date= 13 January 2023 |access-date= 13 January 2023 |archive-date= 13 January 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230113153720/https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/crime/pasvalio-rajone-sprogo-dujotiekis-pliuptelejo-apie-50-metru-aukscio-liepsna.d?id=92270881 |url-status= live }}</ref> 18km of pipeline was disconnected from the main grid to allow gas to burn out. Firefighters extinguished the flames around 21:00 local time.<ref name=bbc /> By midnight Lithuania restored gas transit between Lithuania and Latvia at reduced capacity.<ref name=delfi/>
==Cause==
According to the Amber Grid Chief Executive, they do not have evidence that the explosion was an attack, however said that it will be investigated.<ref>{{cite
On 14 January 2023, representative of Panevėžys County Police Office confirmed that the cause is current under investigation in line with Lithuanian Penal Code's article 278 punishable by prison sentence up to 5 years.<ref name=delfi14 />
==Explosion==
At 16:57, Police department of Pasvalys District received the call about the fire in Pasvalio Vienkiemiai village after a locals heard a loud noise. Flames reached up to 50 m in height and could be seen at a distance of at least 17 km. Buildings within 1km radius overheated above 100 C, therefore firefighters had to cool down the buildings with water.<ref name=delfi14>{{cite web |title=
18km of pipeline was disconnected from the main [[Amber Grid]] system to allow gas to burn out. Fire stopped at around 21:00 local time.<ref name=bbc />
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Nearby village of [[Valakėliai]] was instructed to evacuate completely. Temporary rescue centre was established in ''[[Joniškėlis]] Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė Gymnasium'' building with 120 beds provided for the ones seeking shelter.<ref name=lrt/> On 14 January 2023, locals returned to Valakėliai village.<ref name=lrt14/>
Locals from villages of Paberžiai and Balsiai were advised to evacuate and temporary shelter in Pasvalys Lėvens primary school.<ref name=lrt/> Pasvalys District
==Transport==
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==Repairs==
On 14 January 2023, Gintautas Gegužinskas, Pasvalys District mayor confirmed that it will take minimum a week to repair the damaged [[Lithuania–Latvia Interconnection]].<ref name=delfi14 />
On 16 January 2023 13:30 local time, the repairs were fully finished and gas supply to Latvia restored at full capacity.<ref>{{cite web |title=Suremontavus dujotiekį Pasvalio rajone, visiškai atkurti dujų tiekimo pajėgumai į Latviją |url= https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/verslas/4/1867607/suremontavus-dujotieki-pasvalio-rajone-visiskai-atkurti-duju-tiekimo-pajegumai-i-latvija |website=lrt.lt |publisher=[[Lithuanian National Radio and Television]] |language=lt |date=16 January 2023 |access-date=17 January 2023 }}</ref> Lithuania exporting up to 90 GWh per day of natural gas to Latvia via the pipeline after the repairs.<ref>{{cite web |title= Amber Grid: Suremontavus dujotiekį Pasvalio rajone, visiškai atkurti dujų tiekimo pajėgumai į Latviją |url= https://www.ambergrid.lt/lt/news/pranesimaispaudai/suremontavus-dujotieki-pasvalio-rajone-visiskai-atkurti-duju-tiekimo-pajegumai-i-latvija |website= ambergrid.lt |publisher=[[Amber Grid]] |language=lt |date=16 January 2023 |access-date=17 January 2023 }}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:
[[Category:January 2023 in Europe]]
[[Category:Explosions in Lithuania]]
[[Category:Gas explosions]]
[[Category:2023 industrial disasters]]
[[Category:2023 disasters in Europe]]
[[Category:Panevėžys County]]
[[Category:Natural gas in Lithuania]]
[[Category:Latvia–Lithuania relations]]
[[Category:Pollution events in 2023]]
[[Category:January 2023 in Latvia]]
[[Category:January 2023 in Lithuania]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:2023 Lithuania-Latvia pipeline explosion}}
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