Death toll rises to SEVEN after ‘devastating’ explosion reduced Irish petrol station to rubble
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The death toll has now risen to seven after a massive explosion at a petrol station in Ireland reduced it to rubble, police say.
Sniffer dogs are part of a search that is still ongoing, with a number of people still missing and many more injured.
Ireland’s Garda confirmed four more fatalities this morning after three were killed yesterday in an explosion at an Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough, Co Donegal, on Friday afternoon.
The blast destroyed the building and shattered part of an apartment complex on the outskirts of the village.
Cranes and sniffer dogs were called in and fire and rescue services from nearby Northern Ireland were called in to deal with the tragedy.
The mayor of Derry said the incident, which happened around 3 p.m. Friday, was a gas explosion. The impact caused adjacent apartment buildings to collapse, triggering a search and rescue operation as nervous locals watched.
Nearby Letterkenny University Hospital went to a major emergency department with eight people admitted after “a serious incident with multiple injuries requiring immediate attention.”
They called on the public not to visit the emergency department unless it is urgent.
The death toll has risen to seven and more people are missing after a horrific explosion at a petrol station that ripped through a quiet Irish village on Friday.
Ireland’s Garda has confirmed seven fatalities this morning in an explosion at an Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough, Co Donegal, Friday afternoon
Emergency workers in a crane continue to search for the injured and missing at dawn on Saturday morning
Seven people have died as police continue to search through the rubble with cranes and sniffer dogs
The emergency search continues for more than seven hours after the initial blast. Pictured: A crane assists the search and rescue operation late Friday
A major incident has been declared after a gas explosion at a petrol station in County Donegal, in the north west of Ireland
Emergency services from Northern Ireland crossed the border to arrive and assist.
Creeslough is a small village in the north of the republic, about 30 miles from the UK border and 24 miles from Letterkenny, the nearest town.
Local hotels also announced late Friday that they were no longer taking bookings because they were making their rooms available to emergency services who were working all night.
Some people were treated in hospital last night, while others remain “locked up” at the scene, according to Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty Friday night.
Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin said his “thoughts and prayers” were with the community and those who lost their lives in the tragic explosion.
Dramatic photos from last night showed houses above the Ulster gas station and supermarket that had been almost completely eroded by the blast.
In a statement, Irish Police, An Garda Siochana, said: “An Garda Siochana continues to assist other emergency services at the scene of a serious ongoing incident that occurred at a property at approximately 3:20pm on Friday, October 7, 2022. on the N56 at Creeslough, County Donegal.
This emergency response was led by the Donegal County Council Fire Brigade with assistance from An Garda Siochana, the National Ambulance Service, Irish Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Rescue 118 Helicopter, Irish Air Corps Medivac 112, Northern Ireland Ambulance HEMS, Irish Community Air Ambulance (Ground Crew), Northern Ireland Urban Search and Rescue, Meavagh Fire Service, Donegal Mountain Rescue, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) team and Donegal County Council Civil Defense.
“At present, An Garda Siochana can confirm that there have been three fatalities as a result of this serious incident.
“This is still an ongoing operation and An Garda Siochana cannot provide further information on casualties at this time.
“An Garda Siochana continues to ask road users wishing to travel to the Creeslough area for any reason to consider alternative routes as emergency services continue to deal with this ongoing incident.”
Horror footage shot by passersby showed damage at the Applegreen gas station in Creeslough
Several emergency vehicles were present and a Coast Guard helicopter also provided support. The NI Fire Service, Air Ambulance and paramedics from Northern Ireland rushed across the border to assist emergency services.
The Shandon Hotel in nearby Marblehill also announced it would no longer be taking overnight bookings as it is making free rooms available to emergency services members.
Gardaí local police and the National Ambulance Service (NAS) urged locals to avoid the area.
Irish Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said his thoughts are with those affected by the “tragic events”.
The Tánaiste tweeted: ‘Terrible news from Donegal tonight. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragic events and with the emergency services.’
The Irish Foreign Secretary said last night that he was thinking and praying for the community of Creeslough and across Donegal.
Simon Coveney tweeted: ‘I’m thinking and praying for the community of Cresslough and across Donegal tonight.
“Such a shocking and tragic day, which continues until tonight.
“Thank you to all the emergency teams working together all night.”
TD Pearse Doherty told: RTE News that it was after 3pm when the ‘devastating’ explosion took place which left ‘a very very dark cloud’ over the community.
“He tore right through this building, and this was a very busy location at the time,” he said, explaining that the site houses the gas station, deli, post office, general store and hairdressers for the area.
He said, ‘It’s just quiet, it’s surreal. People hold on to hope, hold on to news, positive news from the emergency services.’
Houses above Ulster petrol station and supermarket were eroded by the blast
Debris covered the ground as members of the public searched the scene for injured persons
City councilor Donal Mandy Kelly said the news was “devastating.”
He added: “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.”
Independent Donegal councilor John O’Donnell said he prayed there were no fatalities.
“What we’re hearing is there’s just an absolute carnage in Creeslough right now, there’s a massive gas explosion,” he told BBC Radio Ulster.
“The feedback I get from family and friends who are unfortunately on site and in the area is that the whole place is in chaos right now, everyone is very, very withdrawn and devastated by what is happening.”
Several emergency services are present and a Coast Guard helicopter also provided support
Gardaí local police and the National Ambulance Service (NAS) urged locals to avoid the area
Fianna Fail councilor Anthony Molloy said it is “out of words” because he knows the family who own the gas station.
“My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved,” said Mr Molloy.
“It looks awful from what I can see in pictures. It looks terrible. It’s just awful.
‘I know the family. It’s incomprehensible.’
An Garda Siochana asked motorists traveling towards Creeslough to consider alternative routes.
An Garda Siochana asked motorists traveling towards Creeslough to consider alternative routes
Some people remain ‘trapped’ in the rubble, according to Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty
The NAS wrote: ‘A number of ambulances are at the scene of a serious incident at a service station in Creeslough, County Donegal.
“Avoid this area at this time if possible.”
The Irish Coast Guard added around 5pm: ‘The Irish Coast Guard is assisting emergency services at the scene of a major incident in Creeslough Co. Donegal.
“Sligo-based Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 118 and the Mulroy Coast Guard team are assisting the operation.”