Van explosion kills 2 outside of Joroinen hotel

Two persons were killed when a van exploded outside of a hotel at Joroinen, a municipality under North Savo region on Saturday afternoon, police said.

The explosion took place in front of Hotel Joronjälki at about 12:20 p.m. resulting a fire, which engulfed several vehicles at the hotel yard.

The hotel building, however, was not burnt but some rooms were damaged.

Responding to an alarm, firefighters and police rushed to the spot and recovered two bodies from there.

Police, however, did not disclose detail about the explosion and the identities of the deceased at the preliminary stage of the investigation.

Local media, quoting owner of the hotel said that the van might have contained some kind of explosive such as gas.

The owner also said that eight vehicles were damaged in the explosion.

Earlier on October 20, two persons were injured when a van exploded at Mellunkylä area in Helsinki.