Explosion rocks Oslo building leaving one injured

An explosion at a building on Økern in Oslo on Friday afternoon caused extensive material damage, shattered windows, and left one person in the building with minor injuries, vg.no reported. Emergency services responded to multiple reports of the blast, deploying a large number of response vehicles and establishing a 50-meter safety perimeter around the affected structure.

Police Investigate Cause After Ruling Out Local Power Grid

Oslo Police District initially received information suggesting an electrical installation had exploded. Operations leader Tor Gulbrandsen stated that officers sought to clarify the scope of the incident and prevent further harm. Shortly after 15:30, incident commander Tore Barstad announced that the initial electrical hypothesis had weakened after investigators ruled out the local power grid operated by Elvia as the source of the blast.

Specialized forensic technicians were dispatched to examine the scene. Police confirmed that several hypotheses remain open while the investigation continues. Authorities reported that the explosion likely originated below the first floor or in the basement of the building. Police have secured control of the property as a crime scene, though operations leader Gulbrandsen emphasized there is no risk of structural collapse.

Evacuations and Power Outages Across the Area

The blast left more than 1,000 customers without electricity according to Elvia’s outage map. Power was progressively restored, with approximately half of the affected customers regaining service by 16:00 on Friday. Police initiated evacuations in the immediate vicinity, while eyewitnesses reported feeling vibrations and hearing a loud detonation that shook nearby properties.

Mats Pettersen, who works in a nearby building, noted that he felt a vibration moments before sirens filled the area. Another witness working in an adjacent building described the impact as sounding initially like a bomb. Police confirmed that no individuals are currently suspected in the case, and officers have been in conversation with witnesses.