Opryland Hotel Explosion From Gas Leak Results In 5000 People Evacuated In Nashville

Nashville, Tenn. officials said more than 5,000 people were evacuated from Opryland Hotel after a gas leak resulted in an explosion overnight. No one was injured.

According to The Associated Press, Capt. Ken Walburn of the Nashville Fire Department said an explosion occurred at 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday evening. A gas leak in a mechanical room at the Opryland Hotel ignited and caused an explosion, prompting the hotel to evacuate.

Walburn said no one was injured nor were any hotel guest rooms affected.

It was amazing that no one was hurt, Walburn told The AP.

However, there were significant damages to an escalator, walls and the ceiling of the Opryland.

The Tennessee state bomb and arson squad investigated the explosion to determine whether or not it was suspicious but terrorism was ruled out.

That was initially part of the concern, Walburn told The AP. We wanted to make sure, given the location and the convention, that it wasn't an act of terrorism.

Opryland Hotel guests were reportedly granted access back into the hotel around 3 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Many of the guests were attendees of the 2012 National Sheriffs Association, The AP reported.