The cable was partially damaged and could still be used, it said. The damage is believed to have occurred simultaneously with the recently discovered leak in the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia, Swedish Television (SVT) quoted Minister for Civil Defense Carl-Oskar Bohlin as saying at a press conference.

"We cannot today assess what caused the damage," he said.

A leak in the Balticconnector pipeline was discovered in the early hours of October 8, and police in Finland and Estonia launched an investigation into the damage. ■