photo: Visegrád 24 on X (Twitter)/A massive fire caused by LPG rail tankers explosion
A series of massive explosions shook Vilnius on Wednesday after a train carrying liquefied petroleum gas caught fire, forcing thousands to evacuate.
A massive fire and series of explosions involving rail tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) forced Lithuanian authorities to evacuate parts of Vilnius on Wednesday, sparking a major emergency response and an ongoing investigation into safety procedures.
According to Reuters, authorities in Lithuania’s capital ordered the evacuation of residents within a one-kilometre radius of the rail station, where the incident occurred during reloading operations. The blaze was first reported at 9:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT). By the afternoon, around 40 firefighters remained unable to approach the flames due to extreme heat, the Lithuanian Fire and Rescue Service confirmed.
AP noted that powerful explosions were heard across the city’s suburbs, with columns of smoke visible from several districts. Residents were urged to stay indoors, as the scale of the fire posed additional risks. Traffic around the affected area was rerouted, Lithuanian media reported.
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Casualties and Immediate Impact
At least one person was injured, the Fire and Rescue Department confirmed, with authorities continuing to monitor the area for further risks. TVP World added that at least eight tankers were believed to have been involved in the blaze and subsequent explosions, though emergency services later revised the number without providing a definitive figure.
Company Involvement and Responsibility
The LPG involved in the accident originated from the Mažeikiai refinery operated by Orlen Lietuva, a subsidiary of Poland’s Orlen Group. The tankers were headed to the Baltoji Vokė terminal near Vilnius. However, Orlen stressed that the terminal is not owned by the company, and that logistics were managed by an external contractor.
"At this stage, there are no suspicions of intentional acts," an Orlen spokesperson in Poland said, as cited by Reuters. "The company is cooperating with the terminal owner and relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the incident." Orlen Lietuva reiterated in a statement cited by AP that the company is working with authorities to determine the cause, having added that foul play is not suspected.
Lithuania’s Interior Minister Vladislavas Kondratovičius told journalists that initial information points to a violation of occupational safety conditions as a likely cause of the fire. However, he stressed that "all versions are being investigated." Prosecutors have opened a formal inquiry into the incident, according to TVP World. For now, authorities are treating it as a serious accident rather than a deliberate act.
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