Accidental tumble dryer fire in laundry room of Derry restaurant to blame for city centre blaze

An accidental tumble dryer fire in the laundry room of a Derry restaurant is believed to be the cause of a major blaze in the city centre today.

More than 60 firefighters dealt with the fire at an apartment block and commercial premises in the Lower Clarendon street area this morning.

Appliances from Newtownstewart, Maghera, Magherafelt and Dungiven Fire Stations, along with a Command Support Unit from Strabane, are also present

The apartment block contains nearly 50 flats and a Chinese restaurant.

Management of the Mandarin Palace said the blaze was caused by an accidental tumble dryer fire in its laundry room.

"Due to an accidental tumble dryer fire in the laundry room The Mandarin Palace will be closed today. The Kitchen & Restaurant remain unaffected & we will reopen very shortly," a post of its Facebook page stated.