KINGSTON, Jamaica — Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie says departments of the Ministry, particularly the Jamaica Fire Brigade and the St James Municipal Corporation, will be conducting investigations into the cause and effect of the explosion at the RIU Hotel in Ironshore, St James, yesterday.

The hotel’s Maintenance Manager, Sederhori McIntosh died, and four other members of staff were injured as a result of an explosion from a boiler pump. Two of the injured are said to be in critical condition.

In a release from his ministry today, McKenzie said that investigations will ascertain the cause and make recommendations about other buildings that may have been affected by the blast.

“The determination of the cause of this explosion will emerge from the investigations now being carried out by the Fire Prevention Unit of the Jamaica Fire Brigade. Additionally, the Building Department of the St James Municipal Corporation will inspect the Boiler Room and any other building that may have been affected by the explosion, to ascertain structural soundness and make appropriate recommendations,” he said.

The minister said that the Fire Brigade will also conduct a fire safety inspection of all the electrical and other equipment in the boiler room, whenever the facility is restored or repaired.

He added: “The inspection will not be limited to the immediate vicinity of the boiler room, but will include the entire Hotel premises, as is the normal requirement. I am heartened that the Brigade’s checks, to this point, reveal that the hotel is properly certified as compliant with all safety requirements.”

McKenzie also expressed condolences to the relatives and friends of the deceased and injured employees, calling the explosion a “sudden and violent jolt to the loved ones and colleagues”.