According to the operators of the gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea, Nord Stream 1 and 2, they have discovered several damages. Overall, the companies said there were unprecedented cases on three lines under the Baltic Sea in one day. Danish F-16 fighter jets filmed gas bubbles rising from the sea southeast of the island of Bornholm on Monday (see video above).
The largest of the three leaks creates bubbles on the sea surface about a kilometer in diameter, the smallest of the three leaks a bubbling circle about 200 meters in diameter, the Danish army reported on its website.
Crisis teams in Denmark and Sweden
Gas is currently leaking unchecked from the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines from Russia to Germany at three points near the island of Bornholm. A corresponding warning was issued by the authority. The cause was initially unclear. Crisis teams have been convened in Denmark and Sweden over the damaged underwater gas pipelines, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde told Aftonbladet newspaper on Tuesday.
For safety reasons – the gas can explode with an open fire or spark – shipping is prohibited within a radius of five nautical miles (about ten kilometers). For the time being, it is assumed that the affected area will remain closed to shipping for two weeks.
Sabotage as a cause cannot be ruled out
There was no official information about a possible cause of the leaks. Like others, the Danish head of government, Mette Frederiksen, spoke of a possible sabotage action: “A coincidence is hard to imagine.” Poland does not rule out the possibility that a Russian provocation is behind the gas leaks. “NATO is closely monitoring the situation in the Baltic Sea,” a representative of the alliance told AFP news agency on Tuesday.
Two Nord Stream 1 strings are out of action for a month due to pressure drop. The company said it was the Opal and Nel connecting lines. A pressure drop from 205 to seven bar had already been detected in the sister pipeline Nord Stream 2 on Monday evening.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
