Health and safety experts yesterday began investigating an explosion which demolished a fast-food restaurant in Ballina, Co Mayo, injuring three people on Thursday evening.
Such was the force of the blast that the roof was blown off and nearby windows were shattered.
One of the injured three was still being treated at University College Hospital, Galway, yesterday after what is believed to have been a gas blast at Tasty Mac's diner on Teeling Street. Two others were released earlier from Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar.
The Health and Safety Authority has ordered an investigation into the cause of the explosion. Workmen moved in yesterday to demolish the unsafe remains of the building. The demolition of an adjoining property, which housed an amusement arcade, is also believed to be necessary.
As a major clean-up of Teeling Street began yesterday, local residents told of their shock. Off-licence owner, Mr John Fahy, who had six windows broken in his premises, said: "It was frightening.This was 100 times louder than the worst clap of thunder I have heard. People were running up and down the street in a cloud of dust."
Mr Fahy said it was a miracle nobody was killed or more seriously injured.
A passing motorist was amongst the injured when the windows of her car were blown in.
The other victims were a restaurant worker and a delivery person.
Gardaí sealed off the scene of the explosion on Thursday evening and technical officers arrived to examine the area yesterday morning.
A member of Ballina Town Council, Mr Padraig Moore, complimented the emergency services for their swift reaction to the blast.
Mr Moore, who runs a TV and electrical shop around the corner from the takeaway, said his front door was blown in by the force of the blast.
He added: "It sounded as if all the TVs in the shop had fallen off the shelves at once."
He said three ambulances were on the scene instantly, as were the fire services.
"It was lucky there was no life lost," he added.
Another councillor, Mr Jodie Beattie, added: "Lucky there were no parked cars in the area at the time as there usually are. Otherwise the casualties would have been much greater."