The first explosion took place Monday, targeting Nord Stream 2, a pipeline that is not currently operational. Surrounding countries recorded a 1.8 magnitude earthquake and a sudden drop in the pipe’s pressure indicating a leak. The second and third explosions detonated approximately 17 hours later targeting Nord Stream 1, which has been shipping gas from Russia into Europe since 2011, but has been operating at a diminished capacity since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to Tagesspiegel, “German security authorities assume that the three tubes of the Baltic Sea pipeline Nord Stream 1 and 2 will be forever unusable after alleged acts of sabotage. If they are not repaired quickly, a lot of salt water will run in and corrode the pipelines, the Tagesspiegel learned from government circles.”
“Due to the size of the leaks, an extremely large amount of salt water can flow into the pipes,” the German Newspaper further reported. “Germany is now trying to further analyze the situation with the Danish and Swedish authorities, but it is very difficult to carry out the appropriate searches at a depth of 70 to 80 meters… The Danish side said on Wednesday that an investigation in the sea could only take place in a week or two. Also because of safety concerns.”