Ten people, including a young child and two teenagers, are confirmed to have died following Friday's gas station explosion in Creeslough, County Donegal.
A multi-agency emergency services operation has continued overnight and into this morning at the scene, RTE was reporting Saturday
The blast - which happened at around 3.20 p.m. - destroyed a service station building, including a store, and a section of an apartment block on the outskirts of the village which is in the north of the county about 12 kilometers south of Dunfanaghy.
Thinking of and praying for the community of Cresslough and across Donegal tonight. Such a shocking and tragic day, continuing into tonight. Thank you to all emergency teams working together through the night.
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) October 7, 2022
RTE reported Gardaí as saying that the operation was now a search and recovery operation. Eight people were transferred to hospital for treatment after the explosion.
Parish Priest Fr. John Joe Duffy told those attending Mass Saturday hat the tragedy had broken the heart of the community.
He said there is a "terrible grief and sadness beyond words in our hearts this morning. Our community has been a great source of support and strength to those directly impacted by the terrible tragedy and it will continue to be that support."
"This is a dark, dark cloud over the entire community."
Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty has described the situation following an explosion at a service station in Cresslough as a "worst nightmare". He said a number of people remain trapped at the scene | https://t.co/O0xm3DcXZZ pic.twitter.com/Sy1Xzxb6f5
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) October 7, 2022
According to the RTE report, "multiple emergency service vehicles remained at the scene overnight, including fire services from both sides of the border, gardaí and civil defence, while a coastguard helicopter airlifted some of those who were injured in the blast from Letterkenny University Hospital to Dublin.
"Sniffer dogs were also being used amid the rubble. Northern Ireland's air ambulance was also deployed, as were fire crews and ground ambulances from the region."
Letterkenny University Hospital stood down its major emergency standby protocol at around 10pm last night.
President Micheal D Higgins, in a statement, said: "May I, as President, express what I know will be the shock shared by all people throughout the country on learning of the terrible tragedy which has unfolded in Creeslough, County Donegal.
"All of our thoughts must go out to all of those who have been affected. Those who have got news of loss of a loved one, those injured and, most of all, those who are waiting with anxiety for news of their loved ones."
My deepest sympathies to the community of Cresslough & to those in our global community who are affected by yesterday’s shocking & tragic events. I know that every Irish person across the globe is thinking of this tight-knit community. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine. https://t.co/MP9dqJQ7dx
— @IEConsulGeneralLA (@IEConsulGenLA) October 8, 2022
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that people across the island would be numbed by the same sense of shock and utter devastation as the people of Creeslough.
He expressed his deepest sympathy to all affected on what he described as "this darkest of days for Donegal" and the entire country.
The Border communities Against Brexit group said in a statement: "Border Communities wish to express our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives in this awful tragedy in Creeslough.
"Our thoughts and prayers to those who have been injured, and to the wider community in Creeslough and Donegal. The emergency services across the Island of Ireland have acted with heroism; thank you for your outstanding efforts. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha."
