The Health and Safety Authority has begun an investigation into an explosion at a Co Waterford storage facility.
A man in his 60s is recovering in hospital following the incident which occurred this morning on Waterford Institute of Technology’s applied technology campus. The campus is located in an IDA industrial estate on the Cork Road.
Waterford City Fire Service confirmed there were two gas explosions involving oxygen and acetylene resulting in a fire. It said the fire had since been brought under control but firefighters remain at the scene.
Gardaí, ESB, Bord Gais and BOC, which supply industrial, medical and specialist gases, are also attending.
A 200m cordon has been put in place around the building and a number of factories have been evacuated as a precautionary measure.
Elaine Greenan, estates manager for Waterford Institute of Technology, said the college would carry out its own internal investigation into the matter.
"The safety of staff and students is paramount and we will be doing everything possible to ensure that this type of incident cannot occur again," she said."We would also like to send our good wishes to the staff member injured in the incident and wish him a speedy recovery."
PA