Works for liquidation of environmental accident in Rokiškis District Juodupė Neighborhood continue. The accident was caused by unauthorized connection to the petroleum product pipeline made by unknown persons. It is assumed that upon rupture of the hose which has been illegally connected to the pipeline, the spill of diesel fuel transported to Latvia occurred. The pipeline section located in the territory of Lithuania is owned and supervised by AB Mazeikiu Nafta. Mazeikiu Nafta emergency response team, fire protection officers, specialists of civil protection and employees of Juodupė Neighborhood immediately commenced the liquidation of the accident consequences.

As told by Arūnas Pranckevičius, Director of Pipelines and Offshore Terminals of Mazeikiu Nafta, intensive works for liquidation of the accident consequences are currently executed in the spill location. The twenty-four hour works are carried out by more than twenty people including sixteen employees of AB Mazeikiu Nafta. Ten booms preventing further spread of diesel-contaminated water have been erected, and five special pumps have been invoked for pumping the contaminated water into the mobile tanks. The works are impeded by sudden thaw of snow and rise of water level on Šaltoji stream and Vyžuona River; nevertheless, recently the situation stabilized, with the level drop noticed.

Management of Mazeikiu Nafta who visited the place of accident state that they are focusing special attention to the accident in Rokiškis District, and ensured that the Company made and will make all efforts to liquidate the accident consequences as soon as possible.

For a photo-report from the place of incident, click here.