Guests forced to leave Galway hotel after a gas cylinder explodes and starts a fire.
There was extensive damage to the rear of the Jurys Inn hotel an adjoining apartment building and to a number of cars parked in the vicinity.
Most of the 275 hotel residents were sleeping when the explosion occurred and the fire broke out.
Hotel staff set the fire alarm off and the building was cleared.
Guests waited on the street for about an hour before the all clear was given that it was safe to return to their rooms. Operations director at the hotel, Pat McCann, said that the building had been evacuated with great speed and there was also a quick response from the fire services.
While much of the damage was to the exterior of the building, there was some internal smoke damage. Windows were smashed by the explosion in six adjoining apartments. All the residents made it to safety. One resident describes hearing a knock on the door at around 4.30 am with someone shouting fire. He immediately left his apartment.
Five units of Galway fire brigade brought the blaze under control.
Three people were treated for smoke inhalation.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 3 December 1995. The reporter is Eileen Whelan.
