The accident in Veteli occurred at a training facility for horses around 11 pm on Saturday. No people or horses were in the building at the time of the collapse. Rescue services were informed of the incident on Sunday.
Officials say the building, totalling about 1,000 square metres, collapsed completely. Snow, which had accumulated on the rooftop, is suspected as the cause of the accident.
Investigations Continue in Haapajärvi and Jyväskylä Also on Saturday, the roof of a store collapsed in the town of Haapajärvi located in Northern Ostrobothnia. No one was injured in the accident. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the collapse, but say the building’s roof was covered with wet snow. They are now trying to determine if the building’s structural design was flawed. Damages have been estimated at millions of euros. Meanwhile, about 40 people were evacuated from a sports centre in Jyväskylä on Saturday after fears its roof may cave in. The centre's structure is to be inspected on Monday. Several roofs at businesses and sporting halls have collapsed in recent years in Finland. Most of the accidents have been blamed on structural flaws, heavy snowfall or strong wind. In theory, buildings are designed to withstand heavy snowfalls. Rescue departments across the country are now checking buildings at risk of collapsing. Real estate owners are also being urged to clear rooftops of excess snow. Safety is primarily the responsibility of the property owner.
