Police investigators found several gas cylinders at the explosion site in Joroinen. The lead investigator said these cylinders appear to be the probable cause of the blast.
Constable Toni Reinikainen stated the gas containers were likely intended for professional use. He believes they were welding gases or similar industrial materials.
The explosion destroyed a van parked near a hotel in the small Finnish municipality. Reinikainen noted the vehicle was so badly damaged it was no longer recognizable as a car.
Hotel owners told media they currently host construction workers and contractors. Ordinary people typically do not transport such gas cylinders in their vehicles, according to police.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the van belonged to a construction company. They also have not identified any victims from the explosion.
Joroinen is a rural municipality in Eastern Finland with about 5,000 residents. The area has seen increased construction activity in recent years.
The presence of professional-grade gas cylinders suggests this was not a typical vehicle accident. Industrial materials require proper handling that may have been overlooked in this case.