GENEVA, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- An explosion occurred at the old Ritom hydroelectric power plant in Piotta, in the Swiss canton of Ticino, on Wednesday morning, leaving two people seriously injured, according to cantonal police.
The incident took place shortly after 9:30 a.m. at the historic facility, located in the municipality of Quinto in the Val Leventina region of southern Switzerland. Cantonal police confirmed to local media that a "serious workplace accident" had occurred at the plant, resulting from "an event that affected part of the structure" and causing "serious injuries to two people".
Initial reports indicated that a section of the building had collapsed, with two individuals caught in the incident. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
The old Ritom power plant, originally built in 1917, was undergoing renovation as part of a broader redevelopment project for the facility. New electrical machinery had recently been installed in the old section where the accident occurred. The construction site for the new power plant is expected to be completed in the coming months.
A major emergency response was launched, with firefighters, paramedics and a REGA (Swiss Air Rescue) rescue helicopter deployed to the scene. Police have cordoned off the area. Externally, no visible damage to the structure has been reported.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the explosion. Further updates are expected as the inquiry progresses. ■