Disasters & Incidents
Swiss power plant explosion kills two workers
Two workers were killed on Wednesday, September 9, in an explosion at the Ritom hydroelectric power plant in Piotta, southern Switzerland, police in Ticino said.
Police described the incident as a serious workplace accident. It happened shortly after 9:30 am, or 0730 GMT, at the plant in the Italian-speaking region, after emergency services were alerted to a fire inside the building.
According to a preliminary police reconstruction, an explosion for reasons still to be determined involved two workers. Police said both later died from severe injuries.
The victims were Swiss nationals aged 55 and 18. Police said the building suffered extensive damage. The exact circumstances and cause of the accident remain under investigation.
Update
Police said the second worker who died was an 18-year-old Swiss national.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 17:48:43 UTC.
Update
Police said the two workers involved in the explosion died from their injuries.
Police described the incident as an explosion after an earlier story said Swiss media had reported an explosion not yet confirmed by police.
Police said emergency services were alerted to a fire inside the building.
Police said one victim was a 55-year-old Swiss national and the other was still being formally identified.
Police said the building suffered extensive damage.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 14:51:44 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The exact cause and circumstances of the explosion remain under investigation.
Source
AFP news report published on .