Investigations are underway after what have been described as a series of mini explosions earlier today in a west Roscommon town.
A Ballaghaderreen Councillor says residents have been left frightened following an incident at around 3pm on Main Street close to the Charlestown junction.
It's understood a number of manholes were lifted several feet into the air after what is suspected was a series of explosions which is understood to be linked to an underground electrical fault or a possible build-up of methane gas.
Emergency services including Gardai and the fire service as well as Roscommon County Council employees attended the scene and up to 71 premises are now without electricity.
No injuries have been reported.
Some kind of 'mini explosion' outside Brian Mulligans shop today - a number of premises lost electric power but no one hurt. Cable TV seems to be out of action. pic.twitter.com/cjX4Rszupq
— Ballaghaderreen (@BealachanDoirin) June 10, 2022
Councillor Michael Mulligan describes what happened:
''It was quite frightening. I was out the back and I heard this almighty thud and shortly after that I heard an almighty bang. And I went to the front door and I walked up the street to see what happened. And one of these manhole covers, three-foot square manhole covers, was literally lifted out of the ground. And a number of smaller ones were lifted up out of the ground as well. And from what I can gather, listening to the experts that arrived, we had the fire service and the Council workers and the ESB and it's expected it was a buildup of methane gas in the sewer. Now, it was very dangerous because this was just at the corner of Main Street How there was no one killed I do not know.''
