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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Connor Lynch

Creeslough explosion: 10 people confirmed dead as further details released

10 people have now died in the Creeslough Applegreen's explosion, the Gardai have confirmed.

Garda said four men, three women, two teenagers (one girl and one boy) and another young girl, primary school age, have died in the tragedy at the Applegreen Service Station in the Co Donegal town.

At a press conference, representatives from the emergency services released further details regarding the incident and said that it is believed to be the result of a tragic accident, but investigations are continuing.

Read more: Donegal GAA cancels all weekend fixtures following tragedy

A Gardai spokesperson said they are not expecting any further casualties.

Garda press spokesman Liam Geraghty said at a press conference in Donegal:"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.

Emergency services attend the scene in Donegal (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

"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."

The press conference heard that all of those who died in the tragedy were killed at the scene and eight people have been taken to hospital. One person remains in a critical condition while seven others are stable.

The explosion on Friday afternoon ripped through the Applegreen Service Station in Creeslough, along with the convenience store and nearby apartments.

Emergency services arrived on the scene within 10 minutes following the launch of a major search and rescue operation.

Emergency services attend the scene following an explosion at a petrol station in Donegal (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

John Joe McGowan, chief ambulance officer for the western region of Ireland's national ambulance service, said words cannot describe the efforts of emergency services in Creeslough.

He said: "Each and every one of you have gone above and beyond in your response," he said, extending particular thanks to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance for their support.

"We will continue our efforts and work with our colleagues in the gardai and the fire service until all recovery efforts have concluded."

Gardai say it is the largest number of civilian casualties 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.

The scene at a service station in the north Donegal village of Creeslough (NW newspix)

"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."

The local community of Creeslough were commended for their "overwhelming response" in the face of such a traumatic incident with them being described as "remarkable and admirable" in how they reacted to support the rescue efforts.

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