Hundreds of people have attended a vigil in memory of the 10 people who lost their lives in the explosion at a service station in Ireland.
The vigil was held in the town of Milford, half an hour’s drive from the scene of the tragedy in Creeslough.
It is the first of almost 20 vigils due to be held across Co Donegal on Sunday.
Read more: The people who lost their lives named
During the vigil in Milford, prayers were said and music was played, including a song called Creeslough, written and played by a local musician.
Parents hugged their children and people carried candles for those affected by the explosion that has left 10 people dead and eight people injured.
At the end of the vigil, the crowd sang an Irish language hymn, A Mhuire Mhathair.
Hot drinks and biscuits were handed out afterwards, as people gathered to process the news in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Parish priest Father Stephen Gorman read a statement sent on behalf of Pope Francis, expressing his sadness at the tragic loss of life and sending his condolences to the people of Ireland.
A statement sent by his representative to Bishop of Raphoe Alexander McGuckian read: “His Holiness Pope Francis was saddened to learn of the loss of life and destruction caused by the explosion in Creeslough and he expresses his spiritual closeness to all those suffering in the aftermath of this tragedy.
“While entrusting the deceased to the merciful love of almighty god, His Holiness implores the divine blessings of consolation and healing upon the injured, the displaced and the families coping with pain of loss.
“As a pledge of strength and peace in the lord, the Holy Father sends his blessing to all the people of Ireland.”
Irish police said a man in his 20s remains in a critical condition in St James’s Hospital in Dublin following Friday’s blast.
The seven other surviving casualties continue to receive treatment in Letterkenny University Hospital and remain in a stable condition.
Garda Superintendent Liam Geraghty said there were “very traumatic scenes” on Friday afternoon.
“Emergency responders from right across Co Donegal and wider and our colleagues in Northern Ireland responded to very, very traumatic scenes, and then processed into dealing with recovery of fatalities at the scene,” he said.
He said most of the police involved are local.
“These are the people they work with and the people that they meet on a daily basis,” he said.
Read next:
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