Newry gas blast injures four children and mother
BBCA mother and four children have been injured by a gas explosion in Newry, County Down.
The blast happened at a house in Barcroft Park at about 18:30 GMT.
The woman, 34, three boys, aged 12, 10 and six, and an eight-year-old girl were all treated for burns to their faces and hands.
The five were all in the kitchen preparing dinner when the explosion occurred. It is thought to have been caused by a faulty gas cooker.
Two children were treated at Daisy Hill Hospital, two at the Royal Victoria Hospital and the mother was taken to the Ulster Hospital.
'Shock'
Two of the children were discharged on Monday night and the others are in a stable condition.
The children were in shock at what had happened, said Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Group Commander Max Joyce.
"They were cooking their meal as you would expect with any family and I am quite sure they didn't expect that to happen," he said.
The Barcroft community had been shocked by the incident and was waiting to see what had caused the blast, said local Sinn Féin Councillor Liz Kimmins.
"I want to thank the quick response of local people and the emergency services who are on the scene dealing with the incident," she said.
