- Fireworks illegally imported from abroad led to an explosion in Nussbaumen AG that left two people dead.
- The two victims tried to make their own fireworks in an underground hobby room, according to the Aargau public prosecutor’s office.
- While handling the homemade fireworks, they ignited and set stored pyrotechnics on fire.
- Combustion gases created a fireball, which together with firework residue caused the explosion.
One week after the explosion in the Nussbaumen district of the Obersiggenthal municipality, the Aargau public prosecutor’s office has released details of the accident. According to the investigation, two fireworks fans, the two later fatalities, had stored large quantities of pyrotechnics in a room in the underground car park.
A permit would have been required for import and handling. According to the public prosecutor’s office, the material in question is the kind used in large fireworks displays.
Legend:
The pressure wave and fire from the underground car park damaged residential buildings and surrounding businesses.
srf
The two men, a 43-year-old Italian and a 24-year-old Swiss, probably tried to make fireworks themselves in the basement without any training. The materials ignited and a chain reaction occurred.
Third man temporarily arrested
A colleague of the two deceased men reported the incident to the emergency services on site. He had also rented the hobby room. The man was temporarily arrested “to prevent the possible destruction of evidence,” wrote the Aargau public prosecutor’s office.
After securing evidence, he was released. An investigation is underway to determine whether the man was partly responsible for the fireworks explosion.
There is still no evidence of a terrorist attack. The reason for the explosion was incorrect handling and storage, but above all unintentional misconduct with the dangerous substances.
Legend:
Many of the cars in the underground car park were destroyed. The material damage runs into the millions.
ZVG
The material damage in Nussbaumen is extensive. The Aargau building insurance company reports twelve damaged buildings and damage totaling millions. In the underground car park, many cars were destroyed, among other things. Eleven people were injured in the explosion. 100 people were evacuated from their homes.