Investigation of the Laukaa explosion accident proceeds: the course of events and explosive substance have been established

An explosion accident occurred at the explosives plant in Vihtavuori, Laukaa on 15 July 2026, leading to the death of one employee. Five other employees were taken to the hospital for examination. The explosion damaged the premises and equipment in the factory building within a radius of approximately 10 metres from the point of explosion, mainly due to fragments flying from the blast.

The explosion occurred in connection with the renovation of a building that was not in production use

In the area of the explosives plant, a building that had been decommissioned for a long time was being renovated in order to start using it again for production purposes.The installation of production line equipment was in progress. During the installation work, a flush pipe that was part of the old equipment was partly obstructing the installation work. The pipe exploded when installers were cutting off a part of the pipe with a reciprocating saw.

The explosive substance was nitrocellulose

When the equipment had been in use decades earlier, some nitrocellulose had remained inside the pipe and dried on the bottom of it.

Nitrocellulose is the basic raw material for smokeless gunpowder used in the manufacturing of explosives. It is highly explosive. The sawn pipe was made of steel. Although the pipe was open at one end, the blast increased the pressure inside the pipe so suddenly that the pipe exploded and fragmented over a distance of about 1.5 metres. 

The Safety Investigation Authority will continue the safety investigation. Publication of the investigation report is expected next spring.

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