The Briefing
- Worker died in Helsinki mall fire
- Blaze started in restricted loading area
- Police do not suspect criminal activity
One person has died following an early morning fire at the Kontula shopping center in eastern Helsinki. The victim, a man born in the 1960s, was an employee working in the building when the blaze broke out in a restricted storage area.
The Kontula shopping center, opened in 1967, is a major community hub for eastern Helsinki. It is known for its high concentration of late-night restaurants and bars, which often remain active into the early hours of the morning.
The fire was discovered just before 2 a.m. on Monday. A patrolling police unit noticed heavy smoke coming from the property, followed shortly by flames breaking through the roof.
Authorities dispatched 20 rescue units to the scene. The Helsinki Rescue Department reported that the fire originated in a shared loading dock and spread into an adjacent restaurant.
Police are currently investigating the cause of the fire and the official cause of death.
Smoke and toxic gases spread widely throughout the commercial property. The storage area where the fire began was closed to the public and reserved only for authorized personnel.
While several restaurants with staff and customers were operating in the wider complex at the time, police have not confirmed if anyone else was in the immediate vicinity of the loading dock.
Police are currently investigating the cause of the fire and the official cause of death. Authorities have stated that they do not currently suspect foul play.
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