The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has launched an investigation into what appears to have been a workplace accident at a coffee shop in Dundalk town centre.
Inspectors from the HSA were on the scene shortly after the incident, during which part of the ceiling of Cafe Metz collapsed just before lunchtime yesterday.
It is understood that work was being carried out on the roof using a blow torch and that some fibreglass caught fire.
This resulted in part of the ceiling collapsing on to one of the tables.
Emergency medical technicians attended the scene, and seven people were taken by ambulance to Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda.
The injuries are not believed to be serious.
