DThe Swedish Coast Guard has pointed out a fourth leak in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipes. So far, two leaks have been reported in the Danish Exclusive Economic Zone and one in Sweden, near the Danish island of Bornholm. But there are two leaks in the Swedish economic zone, the coast guard said on Thursday, making a total of four.
The two leaks in the Swedish economic zone are said to be just under two kilometers apart, a pipe from Nord Stream 2 is affected, in which a larger leak has already been identified. According to Nord Stream 2 AG, the second line should continue to be stable. The smaller of the exit points in the Swedish zone and one of the two in the Danish zone would be 2.6 nautical miles (about 4.6 kilometers) apart.
The Coast Guard posted footage online showing the choppy water surface above the leaks on the Swedish side. The gas leak, which can be seen on the surface, is constant overall, reports the crew on board the coast guard ship “KBV 003 Amfitrite”, the authority wrote.
More than half of the gas has already escaped
Experts from Denmark and Sweden are to investigate the leaks. However, it should be at least until the weekend before the gas has escaped and they can get to the leaks. According to the Danish Energy Agency, more than half of the gas has already escaped from the affected lines.
According to calculations by the authority, the climate impact of the gas leak corresponds to around one third of Denmark’s total climate impact in one year. A concrete health risk for the population – especially on Bornholm – does not exist, it said. Measuring stations in Denmark and Sweden measured two explosions on the bottom of the Baltic Sea in the region of the pipelines on Monday.
Magdalena Andersson, who is still acting as Sweden’s prime minister, said on Wednesday evening that it took a large explosive device to cause such damage. But it was not a direct attack on Sweden. The Swedish Coast Guard is deployed with a special ship near the leaks to monitor the situation. Special divers and an underwater ship are also on board.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said the alleged sabotage was part of an ongoing attempt to destabilize the Baltic Sea region. The explosions were no accident, she said on Wednesday evening, and a state actor was likely responsible. She didn’t say who it might be.
Kremlin rejects speculation about Russian involvement
Already on Tuesday, several countries brought an attack on the European gas infrastructure into play as the cause of the unprecedented damage. The EU and NATO assume sabotage. On Wednesday, the Kremlin dismissed speculation that Russia was involved in the damage to the pipelines as “stupid and absurd”.
EU Interior Commissioner Ylva Johansson described the alleged sabotage of the pipelines as a warning call and announced a stress test for critical infrastructure in Europe. “We will now contact all member states and we will carry out a stress test in relation to the critical infrastructure,” said the Swede on Wednesday evening on ZDF’s “heute journal”.