‘Miracle nobody was killed’ as boiler explodes

A SENIOR fireman said it was a miracle people weren’t killed when a steam boiler exploded in the basement of a building in Cork city yesterday.

Three people were taken to hospital when the boiler in the basement of the three-storey building at 1.55pm. The building is used by University College Cork for its Department of Nursing.

Two men were taken to the South Infirmary with minor injuries while a third man, who was more seriously injured, was rushed to Cork University Hospital where his condition was described last night by a spokesman as being “comfortable.”

The explosion happened at the site at Brookfield, off College Road. The boiler exploded with such force that it blew one door of the basement 50ft away and demolished two internal walls.

“It was a miracle nobody was killed. Normally there would be 800 to 900 people in the building but it was fortunate they were on holidays, especially at that time of the day as there would be so many walking about,” said Cork City Fire Brigade Third Officer John Lynch.

He said the area was immediately evacuated by gardaí and inspected by ESB and Bord Gais personnel.

Officials from the Health and Safety Authority also visited the site and are preparing a report on the accident.

Three health board ambulances and four units of the Cork City Fire Brigade attended the scene.