A van burst into a fireball in front of Hotel Joronjälki on Saturday afternoon, killing two people, police said.
Two people were found dead after an explosive fire in Joroinen, North Savo, on Saturday afternoon, police said. Police had not released any details about the deceased or their involvement in the fire as of early evening.
A van burst explosively into flames in front of Hotel Joronjälki shortly after noon.
Antti Viljakainen heard the explosion at his home, two kilometres away.
“First I heard a loud explosion and then I saw black smoke. I came here, and there was a vehicle in the parking lot engulfed in flames,” he told Yle.
An eyewitness filmed the ensuing fire.
An Yle reporter on the scene said that at least the façade of the 43-room hotel suffered some damage, with some broken windows. Police were investigating the cause of the fire.
Joroinen is a municipality with a population of less than 5,000, about 20km from Varkaus.
Hotel owner Auvo Puurtinen told Yle that he suspects that there was something unauthorised in the van, such as gas. According to Puurtinen, the van belonged to workmen.
He said that eight vehicles were damaged in the explosion.
Puurtinen put the 50-year-old hotel up for sale earlier this year.
Van explosion in Helsinki last week
Another van blew up in Mellunkylä, Helsinki, last week. The vehicle contained gas cylinders, which exploded after the car caught fire.
The van’s owner and an acquaintance were injured in the accident.
Police suspect the van owner of endangerment.