Espoo's Sello shopping center evacuated visitors briefly on Wednesday morning. Emergency services received an alarm just after 11 AM.
Witnesses reported flashing emergency lights throughout the building. Security personnel directed people toward the exits. Multiple emergency response units arrived at the scene.
Western Uusimaa rescue department confirmed the evacuation occurred due to an automatic alarm. Officials stated a sprinkler system leaked water in one area.
The incident lasted approximately fifteen minutes at most. Authorities allowed people back into the shopping center around noon.
This marks another routine safety response in Finnish shopping centers, where automatic systems frequently trigger brief evacuations. While disruptive, such protocols demonstrate the country's strict adherence to safety standards, even for minor incidents.
