Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
Dublin City
'It just caught fire and then boom': Driver tells of escape moments before car explodes
It happened close to the Cineworld cinema on Parnell Street.
Updated at 4pm
A TAXI DRIVER has spoken about his miraculous escape after his car exploded in Dublin city centre.
Reports of the incident flooded social media earlier today and a plume of black smoke rose onto the Dublin skyline.
Ishtiaq Ahmad was the owner of the taxi that caught on fire and told TheJournal.ie that the explosion happened moments after he got out of the car.
“I just parked here for the taxi queue. I stopped and smoke began to come out,” he explained, “Then I got out of the car and went to get my fire extinguisher but the smoke started to get heavier so I called the fire brigade.”
Suddenly it caught fire and then boom. It jumped back. I was very scared then.
Despite the ordeal, Ahmad was relieved to have escaped without injury.
“[Being] safe is the main thing. I can get a new car you know, but the life is not coming back!,” he said.
A Dublin Fire Brigade unit arrived at the scene shortly before 2.30pm, and firefighters quickly got the fire under control.
Thankfully, no one was injured in the incident.
The fire has now been extinguished and traffic has been reopened on Parnell Street.
Here is what Twitter users were saying about the blaze earlier this afternoon….
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
Can’t see the video? Click here.
have your say