Police in the canton of Solothurn have established the cause of the fire and explosions that destroyed a caravan on Industriestrasse in Olten. Specialists found that a technical fault in the gas system most likely allowed gas to collect unnoticed inside the caravan. The leak probably came from a damaged point in the pipes or the gas distribution blocks.
Two people injured
The fire broke out around midday on Wednesday 7 October 2026. The caravan burnt out completely and there were several explosions. Two people were injured, one of them seriously. Police did not give details of their current condition.
According to the investigation, the gas ignited when a person inside lit a cigarette. This triggered an explosion and then a fire. The cantonal police had already reported the incident on 8 October.