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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Matthew Dresch

Police update on cause of petrol station explosion as young girl among 10 dead

Irish police have revealed the cause of a horrific petrol station explosion that left 10 people dead, including three children.

Gardai believe the explosion in the Donegal village of Creeslough was a "tragic accident".

The police say it is the largest number of civilian casualty seen in decades in the region.

Four men, three women, a teenage girl, a teenage boy and a girl of primary school age were killed in the blast.

Eight people were transferred to hospital on Friday, with seven in a "stable" condition, while the eighth is in a "critical condition".

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.

Police believe the explosion was a "tragic accident" (Getty Images)

"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."

It was also confirmed that all victims were from the Creeslough area.

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.

The explosion blasted a hole in a nearby building (PA)

Friday afternoon's explosion ripped through the Applegreen service station and convenience store and adjacent buildings.

A major emergency recovery operation involving first responders from both sides of the Irish border extended through the night on Friday and into Saturday.

Applegreen founder and chief executive Joe Barrett said the company was "utterly shocked and saddened" by the "tragic" incident in Creeslough.

Applegreen said the tragedy was a "dark day for Ireland" (PA)

Mr Barrett said: "Yesterday was a very dark day for Creeslough, for Donegal, for Ireland, and for all of us in the wider Applegreen family.

"This is a hugely tragic event, and I would like to offer our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased, and to the entire community in Creeslough."

Irish premier Micheal Martin said that he will visit the village.
"I think the entire nation is shocked at what has happened, it's an unspeakable tragedy," the Taoiseach told reporters.

Police confirmed 10 people have died in the tragedy (REUTERS)

"Our thoughts and our prayers, our hearts go out to the people of Creeslough, to the families of those who have lost their lives and who have been injured, and to the entire community who are numbed and shocked by what has happened.

"It's very, very difficult to comprehend as people go about their daily lives, that something like this could happen in the middle of the day.

"It's been extraordinarily difficult and traumatic for people as they've had long waits, huge anxiety and stress, waiting for news of their loved ones."

Mr Martin pledged support for the community in Creeslough to help it get through the "enormous trauma".

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