A man has been injured in a gas cylinder explosion in South Belfast.
The incident occurred close to the Belfast Boat Club which sits on the River Lagan in the Ormeau area.
There was a significant emergency services’ presence at Lockview Road on Thursday morning with Fire Service appliances and a Northern Ireland Ambulance Service rapid response vehicle as well as numerous personnel.
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Hazardous materials personnel were deployed to the incident, according to statements issued this morning.
The explosion appears to have happened at the base of a mounted CCTV camera set-up which also has floodlights attached. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service says the explosion occurred in a hydrogen cylinder, but it has not been confirmed that the lamps on the CCTV mast are hydrogen powered.
An NIFRS spokesman said they were called to Lockview Road at 8.57am. They say three appliances, one from Whitla and two from Cadogan were sent to the incident.
The spokesman added: “Firefighters were called to a hydrogen cylinder explosion. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus, made the scene safe using one hose reel, a gas monitor and two intrinsic safety radios. One male casualty was left in the care of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. The incident was dealt with by 10.05.”
The NIAS said they were called to the scene at the same time “following reports of an incident in the Lockview Road area, Belfast”.
A spokesman added: “NIAS despatched one Emergency crew, one Rapid Response Paramedic and two Hazardous Area Response Teams to the incident. Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, one patient was taken to Royal Victoria Hospital by Ambulance.”
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