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Gas leak in the Baltic Sea: Pipeline can probably no longer be saved
Photo: HANDOUT/AFP
The German security authorities were convinced that highly effective explosive devices were needed to interrupt the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
According to SPIEGEL information, it was calculated that explosive devices with an effect comparable to that of 500 kilograms of TNT must have been used to destroy the tubes.
The seismic signals registered by various measuring stations were also included in the estimate.
The previously unknown estimates support the assumption that only a state actor can be behind the action.
So far, the federal government has held back with speculation about the background to the interruption of the pipelines.
There is a lot of speculation that Russia is behind the action.
The Russian leadership, however, described the process as international terrorism directed against Russia.
The federal government is hoping for more information from a more detailed examination of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines, which are interrupted to the north-east and south-east of the Baltic Sea island of Bornholm.
In security circles it was said that divers or a remote-controlled robot could possibly assess the damage at the weekend.
In the best-case scenario, one could then draw initial conclusions about the type of explosion under water and the explosives used, according to security circles.
However, it is difficult to predict how many traces can still be found.
Repair is considered unlikely
A repair of the pipeline is now considered very unlikely in security circles.
Since the damaged tubes are currently full of seawater, the special inner coating is corroding very quickly, according to Berlin.
According to the analysis, once the pipes are flooded, the pipeline can no longer be used to transport gas.
fis/mba/mgb