A fire broke out Wednesday at a liquefied gas filling station in Vilnius, igniting eight rail cars loaded with gas and triggering explosions, officials said.
“According to preliminary data, the fire broke out due to violations of working conditions. Police have activated Shield Plan,” Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovič told reporters.
He said the State Border Guard Service was monitoring the site from the air with a helicopter. A transit train bound for Russia’s Kaliningrad region was halted because of the incident and will be rerouted. Two Public Security Service units were dispatched to guard the train.
Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas said on Facebook that traffic was closed on Kirtimų Street and the Eišiškės highway because of the fire.
The General Emergency Centre first reported the blaze in the morning, initially saying one rail car was on fire on Baltosios Vokės Street. Later, Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson Edita Zdanevičienė told BNS that eight gas rail cars were burning and explosions could be heard.
Seven fire engines, two water tankers and two ladder trucks were deployed to fight the blaze, the department said. One person was reported injured.
Residents were warned about possible air pollution and advised to stay indoors, keep windows and doors shut, and turn off ventilation or air conditioning systems. Drivers passing near the fire were urged to keep car windows tightly closed.
State-owned rail operator LTG said the fire was not connected to its operations. “The explosion occurred on private company property, and the burning rail cars also belong to a private company,” the group said in a statement.
LTG added that only transit trains were affected and would be redirected through Vilnius while the fire is contained.
Likely ‘technogenic accident’
Commissioner General Arūnas Paulauskas told reporters that over 30 police officers are working at the scene. Officers from the Aras special forces unit are preparing to inspect the scene once the fire has been localised.
“According to preliminary data, it is most likely a technogenic accident,” said the commissioner general about the possible cause of the fire.
According to Paulauskas, when the fire started, a Kaliningrad transit train was nearby. It was redirected back to Vilnius station and from there to another route to leave Lithuania.
Evacuation ordered
On Wednesday afternoon, the fire reached one of the stationary gas tanks. The Fire and Rescue Department (PAGD) announced the evacuation of people within a one-kilometre radius due to fears of a possible large explosion.
PAGD spokesman Donatas Gurevičius told BNS that the stationary gas tanks are connected to each other by underground pipes.
According to him, there are very few residents in the vicinity of the liquefied gas filling station in Aukštieji Paneriai, as it is an industrial area, but there are companies nearby where people work. Everyone is advised to evacuate.
At the scene of the incident, Gurevičius told reporters the fire broke out in private territory.
“When gas leaks and catches fire, there are bursts and explosions,” he explained what caused the explosions.
The official confirmed that one person was injured and taken to hospital. According to preliminary data, this is an employee of the company that owns the liquefied gas filling station.
Rail cars owned by Orlen Lietuva
Orlen Lietuva, an oil import and processing company owned by the Polish oil concern Orlen, has confirmed to BNS that it is the owner of the rail cars that caught fire. The incident occurred on land owned by Jozita in Baltoji Vokė.
“We have eight tankers there with liquefied gas. These are our tankers, seven of which we lease and one of which we own,” Tomas Digaitis, chief of communications at Orlen Lietuva, told BNS.
“This is a shipment from the plant in Mažeikiai. We produced it, loaded it and sent it, but the incident occurred while the customer was unloading the rail cars. Our people were not involved in this operation in any way,” he said.
He did not comment on further details of the incident.
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