Opryland Hotel Explosion Forces 5000-Guest Evacuation

An explosion at the famous Opryland Hotel in Nashville forced about 5,000 guests to evacuate.

The explosion, which occurred in a mechanical room of the Opryland Hotel, damaged one of the escalators and sent smoke up to the second floor. The Fire Department said that a leaky gas line had caused the explosion.

Deputy Fire Chief Kim Lawson said:

“There was an area on the Delta, near a mechanical room, where an explosion occurred… There was no fire. Crews went inside. There is some damage to that area. Crews immediately called [to shut off] off utilities.”

Nashville Fire Department spokesman Ricky Taylor, added:

“This explosion was strong enough that it destroyed one of the escalators and blew upward through the first floor into the second floor… An area the size of a football field was affected. This is all internal. Nothing is visible from the outside of the building.”

According to WKRN, the Opryland Hotel was full of law enforcement officers who were in town for the National Sheriff’s Conference at the time of the explosion.

The hotel provided cots and blankets for the temporary displaced guests while some people traveled to other nearby hotels. According to WBIR, the 5,000 guests at the Opryland Hotel were allowed back into their rooms early this morning.