On Wednesday morning on the outskirts of Lithuania’s capital there were powerful explosions after several railcars carrying natural gas caught fire, the police reported. The authorities said the shipment belonged to Orlen.
According to the Lithuanian fire service, one person was injured.
Columns of smoke were visible across Vilnius, and residents in the area were warned to stay indoors.
Interior Minister Vladislavas Kondratovičius told reporters that preliminary information indicates the “fire was most likely caused by a violation of occupational health and safety conditions, but all scenarios are being investigated.”
Police said the natural-gas railcars belonged to the Polish company Orlen. Company representative Tomas Digaitis confirmed to Lithuanian media that the railcars belong to the group. “There are eight of our railcars—seven of them are leased, and one belongs to us. They were carrying our gas cargo,” he said. The gas was being transported from Mažeikiai to Vilnius for a private client. He added that logistics partners are responsible for transporting the cargo.