Five people have been rushed to hospital after a house fire that sent a "loud bang" around the town of Dundalk, Co Louth this morning.
A house on Clontygora Court caught fire at 3:35am this morning with local residents alerting emergency services after hearing a bang.
Fire brigades and gardai rushed to the scene and five people were brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.
All five occupants of the house are described as having non-life threatening injuries.
A full examination is underway of the house with extensive damage done.
Gardai are treating it as a criminal incident and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
No arrests have been made at this early stage of the investigation.
A garda spokesperson said: "Gardaí at Dundalk are appealing for any witnesses to this incident or anyone with information to come forward.
"Gardaí are also appealing for any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) who were travelling in the areas of Clontygara Court and Hoey's Lane between 3am and 4am to make this footage available to Gardaí.
"Anyone with information is asked to contact Dundalk Garda Station on 042 9388 400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station."
