Residents evacuated as car fire erupts in Cork shopping centre car park

Residents were evacuated from apartments above the Market Square Shopping Centre in Co Cork on December 8, 2024, after a car caught fire in the underground car park. Firefighters quickly responded to the scene, controlling the blaze. The fire, believed to be caused by spontaneous combustion of a diesel vehicle, produced thick black smoke. No injuries were reported, and residents were allowed to return home by 9 PM. The shopping centre reopened the following morning, but the car park remains closed for cleanup. Local officials confirmed that there was no significant damage to the building or surrounding area.