The death toll from an explosion at an Irish petrol station has risen to 10, with the search for further fatalities still ongoing. The blast yesterday (October 7) ripped through the Applegreen service station in Creeslough, Co Donegal, as well as the convenience store and other nearby buildings.
Garda, the Irish police service, told Belfast Live that four men, three women, two teenagers, and a young girl, of primary school age, have died. A search and recovery operation is continuing in Creeslough, as dozens of rescue workers try to locate several people who are still missing. Eight people were transferred to hospital on Friday.
Hot drinks, water and food were handed out to members of the emergency services and the media as search and recovery efforts continued. The Garda has not provided any information on the suspected cause of the explosion.
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Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheal Martin described it as the “darkest of days” for Donegal and Ireland.
“My thoughts and prayers are today with those who have lost their lives, and those injured in the devastating explosion in Creeslough,” he said. "I wish to express my deepest sympathies to their family, and friends, and to the entire community of Creeslough, on this darkest of days for Donegal and the entire country."
“People across this island will be numbed by the same sense of shock and utter devastation as the people of Creeslough at this tragic loss of life. I would like to thank all the members of the emergency services, from across the North-West and Northern Ireland, who responded so quickly to the scene, and who are working throughout the night in extremely traumatic circumstances.”
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