Emergency alert after petrol leak on Upper Mount Street in Dublin.
An Garda Síochána seal off Upper Mount Street in Dublin city centre when it is discovered that over 700 litres of petrol have leaked from a storage tank at the Mount Street Crescent garage.
The leak came to light when office workers arriving for work reported a strong smell of petrol fumes. The street is subsequently blocked to traffic and a number of homes and offices are evacuated.
Dublin Corporation officials open all the drains in the street. Dublin Fire Brigade work through the sewers to trace the leak. Once it is found, they pump in water to flush away the highly flammable liquid.
During the emergency alert people in the area are warned by gardaí not to start their cars or smoke cigarettes. They must leave their windows open and turn off all electrical appliances in case of causing an explosion.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 21 March 1978.
