Powerful explosions were heard in the suburbs of Lithuania's capital on Wednesday morning after several rail cars loaded with liquefied petroleum gas caught fire, authorities said.
The fire and rescue department said one person was injured and columns of smoke were visible across Vilnius. Residents in the affected area were warned to stay indoors as emergency crews responded to the scene.
Interior Minister Vladislavas Kondratovičius told reporters that initial information indicates the blaze was "most likely caused by a violation of occupational safety conditions," but he said all versions of the incident are being investigated. Police said the carriages that caught fire belong to the Polish company Orlen.
Orlen said in an emailed statement that the tankers were carrying liquefied petroleum gas from its Lithuanian unit's refinery to the Baltoji Vokė LPG terminal in Vilnius. The company said there was a fire followed by an explosion and that the terminal is not owned by Orlen's Lithuanian unit. The logistics operation, Orlen added, was carried out by a contractor and the company is cooperating with authorities probing the cause of the incident. "At this point there is no suspicion that this is the result of intentional actions," the statement said.
Emergency services worked to contain the blaze and secure the area while investigators examined the wreckage of the rail cars. Local officials issued public safety advice to limit outdoor activity and to close windows in nearby districts until air quality and risks from further incidents could be assessed.
Rail transport of liquefied petroleum gas has been a common method for moving fuel between refineries and storage terminals in the region. Lithuanian authorities did not immediately provide details on the scope of damage to nearby infrastructure or on the condition of the injured person. Investigators are expected to analyze operational records, maintenance logs and the conduct of the contractor responsible for the logistics operation as part of their probe.
The incident comes as Lithuania and neighboring countries continue to monitor energy infrastructure closely. Officials said they would release further information as investigations progress and emergency crews complete their work at the scene.