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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 news |last1=Sytas |first1=Andrius |title=Lithuania-Latvia gas pipeline blows up, but no sign of attack |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/lithuania-latvia-gas-pipeline-hit-by-explosion-operator-says-2023-01-13/ |website=reuters.com |date=13 January 2023 |agency=Reuters |access-date=14 January 2023 |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113234209/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/lithuania-latvia-gas-pipeline-hit-by-explosion-operator-says-2023-01-13/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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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