Lapua Cartridge Factory explosion
Date13 April 1976 (1976-04-13)
LocationLapua, Finland
Deaths40
Non-fatal injuries60

The Lapua Cartridge Factory explosion (Finnish: Lapuan patruunatehtaan räjähdys) was an industrial disaster in an ammunition factory in Lapua, Finland on 13 April 1976. Forty workers[1] were killed and 60 people injured. This was Finland's worst industrial disaster.[2]

Explosion

The explosion occurred at 07:43, completely destroying the building.[3] The blast was heard up to 20 kilometres (12 mi) away.[4] Most of the injured had been in the factory at the time, but some outside were injured by shrapnel.[5] Of the dead, thirty-five were women. Fifty-two children under the age of 16 lost at least one parent in the accident.[5]

A strike by telephone engineers meant that there was reduced communication in Lapua at this time,[3] as many of the circuits had not been fully repaired after the winter and the telephone exchange was quickly overwhelmed as relatives phoned searching for information.[4] Rescue efforts were hampered by fires, causing several of the remaining cartridges to explode at sporadic intervals.[6] Beginning at 08:05, the injured began to be transferred to the district hospital in Seinäjoki.[3] Staff at this hospital had already received training in preparation for a major incident, as the town was located at a railway junction.[4] Medical staff were concerned that the clothing worn by victims of the incident could include live ammunition which could be accidentally set off.[5] Military helicopters brought blood supplies from Helsinki for transfusions.[5]

Response

The day of the disaster, the Minister of Defence, Ingvar S. Melin, visited the health centre in the town and the Parliament of Finland observed a minute's silence.[5] The funeral service of all 40 victims took place in the southern park of Lapua Cathedral and was broadcast live on Finnish television.[1][5] The accident resulted in an enhanced level of crisis support from the Finnish authorities and donations from private individuals came in from across the nation to help.[1]

Investigation

Debris from the scene was taken to the laboratory of the Finnish Defence Forces for analysis.[7] In November 1976 investigators found that the explosion had begun with a machine which dispensed gunpowder and had spread from there, causing a chain reaction.[8] Investigators tested numerous possible scenarios, among them the theory that rust had caused the machine to malfunction or that a foreign object had lodged in it. However, a definitive cause of the explosion was never discovered.[8] Investigators speculated that poor ventilation in the factory had caused a buildup of gunpowder dust, which was then ignited by a spark.[4] The accident resulted in new legislation in the armaments industry which brought in stricter safety measures.[7]

In 1978 legal action against the factory's owners began; this ended in 1982 with all defendants being acquitted.[8] A few weeks after the explosion, the decision was taken to rebuild the factory. It was rebuilt 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the town centre.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Suomen tuhoisimmasta räjähdyksestä 40 vuotta – arkkurivi hiljensi koko kansan" [Finland's devastating explosion 40 years on: the rows of coffins silenced the entire nation] (in Finnish). MTV3. 10 April 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  2. ↑ Sumiala, Johanna (2013). Media and Ritual: Death, Community, and Everyday Life. Routledge. p. 95. ISBN 978-0415684323.
  3. 1 2 3 Kekki, Pertti (May 1978). "The operation of a health centre after a catastrophe in Finland" (PDF). The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners: 298–301. PMID 702445. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Lapuan räjähdys täytti sairaalan" [The Lapua explosion filled the hospital] (in Finnish). MTV3. 10 April 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Harju, Jukka (10 April 2016). "Lapuan patruunatehtaan räjähdys koskettaa yhä" [The Lapua Cartridge Factory explosion still affects people]. Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Helsinki, Finland. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  6. ↑ "Neljä tarinaa Lapuan tuhoisasta räjähdyksestä" [Lapua's devastating explosion in 4 stories] (in Finnish). MTV3. 10 April 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  7. 1 2 "A twelve-month undertaking". Work, Health, Safety. Institute of Occupational Health: 38–39. May 1978. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Jaakkonen, Pasi (13 April 2016). "Tapahtumat hetki hetkeltä 13.4.1976: Lapuan patruunatehtaan räjähdyksessä kuoli silmänräpäyksessä 40 ihmistä" [Events moment by moment 13 April 1976: The Lapua cartridge factory explosion killed 40 people in an instant]. Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Helsinki, Finland. Retrieved 4 July 2016.

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