Size of Nord Stream blasts equal to large amount of explosive, UN told

One of the four gas leaks from the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Denmark and Sweden have said leaks from the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea were caused by blasts equivalent to the power of “several hundred kilograms of explosive”.

The conclusions were made in a joint report by Denmark and Sweden which was delivered to the United Nations. The UN environment programme said on Friday the ruptures are likely to have led to the biggest single release of climate-damaging methane ever recorded.