ABOUT 50 gardaí at one of the State’s busiest Garda stations had to be evacuated yesterday after an explosion in its boiler house.
The incident occurred at Henry Street Garda station, Limerick’s Garda headquarters, shortly before 2pm after a boiler exploded in the basement.
A number of men were working in the area at the time converting the heating system to gas. Two workers were taken to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital following the explosion.
One of the workmen was treated for burn injuries which were described as “not life-threatening”.
The second man was assessed for smoke inhalation.
About 50 gardaí were evacuated along with one prisoner, who was transferred to Roxboro Garda station.
Henry Street and other roads near the station were closed to traffic during the evacuation and motorists used alternative routes while firefighters attended the scene.
Some six fire tenders from fire stations including Shannon, Rathkeale and Limerick city attended along with ambulance personnel.
The building was deemed safe about two hours later, shortly before 4pm, and roads in the area were reopened to traffic.
The station will not be open to the public until the Office of Public Works has completed its inspection.
The Health and Safety Authority has been notified about the incident.