World

Fourth leak reportedly found on Nord Stream pipeline

Fourth leak reportedly found on Nord Stream pipeline

A fourth leak has reportedly been found on the Nord Stream gas pipeline.

Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet quoted the coastguard as saying it had found the leak after the pipelines, which run from Russia to Germany, were damaged in three places earlier this week.

“Two of these four are in Sweden’s exclusive economic zone,” said coastguard spokesperson Jenny Larsson.

The two other holes are in the Danish economic zone.

The suspected acts of sabotage in the Baltic Sea were likely premeditated attacks using underwater explosives detonated remotely, a British defence source told Sky News.

They said the mines could have been lowered on a long line, dropped over a boat or placed next to the pipelines with an underwater drone.

The European Union also believes the leaks are a result of sabotage.

More from World

Russia has said accusations it is responsible are “predictable” and “stupid”.

Image:
Gas bubbles in the sea off the coast of the Danish island of Bornholm. Pic: AP

The Nord Stream 2 line runs 764 miles (1,230km) from Russia to Germany and had been due to carry gas to Europe until Russia invaded Ukraine and Germany refused to grant a licence.

Gas has spewed into the sea since the first leak was detected on Monday morning about 14 miles (23km) southeast of Denmark’s Bornholm Island.

On Tuesday, Swedish authorities warned of two more leaks on the Nord Stream 1 line.

Sweden’s national seismology centre said “powerful subsea blasts” were recorded in the area the leaks occurred.

Read more:
‘Sabotage’: What we know about the Nord Stream leaks and who was behind them

Image:
The location of the first three leaks

Bjorn Lund, a seismologist with Uppsala University, told broadcaster SVT: “There is no doubt that these were explosions.”

Danish defence minister Morten Bodskov said on Wednesday: “Our assessment is… that the breakage on the pipes is not an accident but a deliberate act.”

Experts expect navies from nearby countries will send teams with underwater drones to investigate, but say it could take a week or so before it’s calm enough to do so.