A van exploded in the car park of Hotel Joronjälki in Joroinen on Saturday, 1 November 2025. Photo: Auvo Puurtinen
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Two people have died after a van exploded outside a hotel in the eastern Finnish town of Joroinen on Saturday afternoon. The blast occurred around 12.30pm in front of Hotel Joronjälki.
According to police, the explosion triggered a fire that spread to the hotel’s entrance canopy but did not ignite the main building. Emergency services found the bodies during a technical investigation of the scene. Authorities have not released the identities, ages, or other details of the deceased.
The explosion caused significant damage.
At least eight cars were destroyed, according to Auvo Puurtinen, owner of the hotel. He told Finnish media that five of the damaged vehicles belonged to the hotel, while the others were owned by guests or nearby workers.
“The pressure wave was strong,” said Puurtinen. “Car bumpers flew across the yard. Windows shattered. Part of the brick wall was thrown into the air.”
Puurtinen said he was not at the site when the explosion occurred but returned to find the area cordoned off. He said the van belonged to workers staying at the hotel. The vehicle had been parked near the building and is believed to have contained volatile materials.
“Something explosive must have been inside the van,” he said. “There’s no way an ordinary vehicle fire could cause such a blast. The smoke clouds looked like something after a nuclear bomb.”
He added that despite the scale of the damage, repairs to the building would begin immediately and be completed by Sunday. The hotel’s main structure remains intact, though some doors, windows, and the outer wall suffered damage from the blast.
The Eastern Finland Police Department has launched a fire investigation. Officers have not confirmed the .
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
