Man hurt in blast at Cork city plant

A man has been injured in an explosion at an oxygen-bottling plant on the outskirts of Cork city this afternoon.

The man suffered burn injuries to his back in the incident at the Irish Oxygen plant in Waterfall, on the western outskirts of the city at 2.20pm.

Several fire service units are attending the scene, where the man is being treated before being taken to Cork University Hospital. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

Gardaí have closed off Waterfall Road as a precaution, and it is understood the HSE inspectors are due to examine the scene.

In November 2011, two men suffered non-life-threatening injuries in an explosion at the same plant.

Irish Oxygen, which was set up in 1949, has two plants in Cork city that produce oxygen and nitrogen gases by extraction from air, and acetylene gas chemically.