The explosions that rocked the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines under the Baltic Sea ahead of huge gas leaks “probably corresponded to an explosive load of several hundred kilos,” Denmark and Sweden wrote on September 30 in a letter to the United Nations.
The blasts measured 2.3 and 2.1 on the Richter scale, resulting in four leaks that vented gas into the sea. Two of the leaks are in Danish territory; another two are in Swedish territory.
In the letter to the UN Security Council, the two countries noted that the gas plumes being vented are disrupting air and sea vessels and could be dangerous to marine life. Additionally, greenhouse gas is being released into the environment. The leaks could continue through at least October 2.
Norwegian researchers on September 30 published a map projecting a huge plume of methane released by the damaged Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines that will travel over large swaths of the Nordic region.
Moscow has requested an emergency meeting at the UN Security Council to discuss the explosions and called for a thorough international probe to assess the damage to the pipelines, which carry natural gas from Russia to Europe.
The Kremlin said in a statement that “it looks like a terror attack, probably conducted on a state level.”
The European Union and NATO have said the leaks are the result of sabotage but have stopped short of pointing fingers.
However, Ukraine and Poland have accused Russia of being behind the ruptures.