Two people were slightly injured and several buildings were damaged Wednesday when the attempted disposal of several hundred kilograms of explosives accidentally sparked a giant blast, Swiss police said.
The explosion happened at a rural facility used for handling explosives and for fire safety training, around 15 kilometres (nine miles) west of Zurich, Switzerland’s biggest city, in the Illnau-Effretikon municipality.
“Shortly after 1:00 pm (1200 GMT), a private demolition company began disposing of several hundred kilograms of explosives at the Tatsch test and training facility,” the Zurich cantonal police force said in a statement.
“The explosives, which were supposed to burn, detonated. This created a crater several metres in diameter.
“The shockwave caused significant damage to several buildings and shelters on the site.
“Two employees of the company involved sustained minor injuries and received medical treatment at the scene.”
The police force said it received several reports of damage to buildings in the area beyond the site, but the extent of the damage had yet to be quantified.
Images published by Swiss media showed a white plume of smoke rising above a hilltop, visible from kilometres away.
Other images showed an industrial building with its metal walls ripped off and other buildings with shattered windows.
The police and prosecutors are investigating the exact cause of the accident. Forensic specialists were sent to the scene to secure evidence.
The Swiss Seismological Service, based at the ETH Zurich university, said it detected the explosion at 1:07 pm (1207 GMT), at a magnitude of 0.4.
“A clearly audible detonation occurred in the Illnau-Effretikon area, triggering a powerful sound wave,” the municipality said on its website.
“The shockwave caused damage to buildings (broken glass/window panes, loose tiles),” it said, adding: “There is no danger to the public.”
