Police say Ireland petrol station explosion was 'freak…

Police say Ireland petrol station explosion was 'freak accident' as girl among 10 killed in tragedy

The suspected cause of an explosion at a petrol station in Ireland has been revealed by police.

A five-year-old girl, four men, three women and two teenagers are believed to have been killed in the horror blast in Creeslough, Co Donegal on Friday afternoon.

The local hospital declared a major emergency as locals rushed to help rescue people who could be heard crying for help beneath the rubble, the Mirror reports.

Police investigating the tragedy have now confirmed a girl of primary school age died in the tragedy, and that the explosion is thought to have been a "freak" accident.

Photos from the scene showed a two-storey apartment block above the petrol station's store with walls blown out and a partially collapsed roof, and debris scattered across the forecourt where several cars were parked.

Emergency services continue their work at the scene of an explosion at Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal (Brian Lawless/PA Wire)

On Friday evening, sniffer dogs were brought to the rubble in a bid to find people still stuck under the debris, while injured people were being airlifted from the scene.

At one stage, rescue crews asked onlookers to remain silent as they switched off machinery and listened out for anyone still trapped in the wreckage. Police believe the cause of the explosion was accidental, and said it is the largest number of civilian casualties seen in decades in the region.

At a media conference this afternoon, Garda press spokesman Liam Geraghty said: "The emergency services continue a search and recovery operation at the site this afternoon but based on the information available to An Garda Siochana at this time it is not expected that there will be any further casualties located and there are no outstanding reports of unaccounted for persons.

JJ McGowan, National Ambulance Service chief ambulance officer for the north-west region (PA)

"The 10 casualties are four men, three women, two teenagers - a boy and girl, and a younger girl. The thoughts of all the emergency service personnel who have attended the scene over the last 24 hours, the local community in Creeslough and the nation are today with the deceased and their families."

Superintendent David Kelly of Milford Garda station added: "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."

Emergency services do not expect to recover any further victims from the rubble and there are no outstanding missing person reports.

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