Switzerland: Two killed in power plant explosion

A fire and subsequent explosion have killed two workers at a Swiss hydroelectric power plant. Authorities say the facility suffered major damage in the incident.

https://p.dw.com/p/5MKyK

Journalists seen shooting video at the Ritom Hydroelectric Power Station in Piotta, Switzerland, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Wednesday’s explosion at the Ritom Hydroelectric Power Station occurred after fire broke out at the facilityImage: Mirko Aquilino/Ti-Press/KEYSTONE/picture alliance

Two workers were killed in an explosion at a hydroelectric power plant in the village of Piotta in southern Switzerland on Wednesday, according to local authorities.

Police say a fire was reported at the Ritom Hydroelectric Station in the canton of Ticino around 9:30 a.m. (0730 GMT). The blaze trapped two workers inside.

Shortly thereafter, an explosion rocked the plant, severely damaging the building and gravely injuring the men, both of whom died from their injuries shortly thereafter.

Authorities say one of the men was a a 55-year-old Swiss citizen, the other has yet to be identified.

State prosecutors have launched an investigation into the cause of the deadly incident.

The facility, which is owned by Swiss rail carrier SBB, is currently undergoing renovations as part of a plan to  reconfigure the 100-year-old site.

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko

If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google, so you’ll always see our verified news first.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About the Author

Easy WordPress Websites Builder: Versatile Demos for Blogs, News, eCommerce and More – One-Click Import, No Coding! 1000+ Ready-made Templates for Stunning Newspaper, Magazine, Blog, and Publishing Websites.

BlockSpare — News, Magazine and Blog Addons for (Gutenberg) Block Editor

Search the Archives

Access over the years of investigative journalism and breaking reports