A 23-year-old woman has been named by a relative as one of the 10 victims killed in a horrific petrol station explosion in Ireland. Jessica Gallagher and her boyfriend reportedly lived in a flat above the petrol station in the Donegal village of Creeslough.
She died in Friday's blast, which also injured her boyfriend, who is now being treated in hospital, reports the Mirror. Three children, including a dad and his five-year-old daughter, are understood to be among the nine other victims who died in the tragedy.
Jessica's relative John McGeady posted on Facebook : "R.I.P. I'm sure you've all heard about the gas explosion in Creeslough. Unfortunately our cousin Anthony Gallagher has lost his daughter Jessica in the explosion. Jessica was in the same year at school as my daughter Flonnuala.
"Our thoughts are with her parents and two sisters and also so with all the friends and families of all the other victims of this disaster."
A friend told MailOnline : ''She'd moved in with her boyfriend above the petrol station shop and was at home when the explosion ripped through the building. Her boyfriend had been about to have a shower. I think he's being treated in hospital in Dublin and is in a bad way.
"Jessica was a lovely girl, she grew up in Creeslough and went to school here. She had a lot of friends, who are understandably distraught at the news."
Irish police have now revealed they believe the explosion was a "tragic accident". The police say it is the largest number of civilian casualty seen in decades in the region.
Superintendent David Kelly, of Milford garda station, said: "This is a tragedy for our community. There are families left devastated. I want to offer, on behalf of myself and my colleagues that attended the scene, our very sincere condolences. I would like say as well, and forgive me if I get a bit emotional because you are dealing with the public.
"At this point in time, we have to keep an open mind in how we investigate this but our information at this point in time is pointing towards a tragic accident.
"That said being a garda, I have to take a holistic and overall viewpoint, but that's where we are going at the moment. We are following certain investigative angles but for operational reasons, I am not going in to that."
A spokesman for the police said emergency services do not expect to recover any further victims from the rubble and there are no outstanding missing person reports.
Friday afternoon's explosion ripped through the Applegreen service station and convenience store and adjacent buildings.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here.
READ NEXT:
Scots child killer attacked prison officer over wait for breakfast cereal
Final picture of evil serial killer Peter Tobin shows monster chained to hospital bed
Scots lawyer caught with cannabis in court avoids being struck off
Was Peter Tobin Bible John? Killer denied Glasgow murders to prison pal
Teen driver who killed biker in 'unusual circumstances' walks free from court
