A number of people have been left injured after a major explosion destroyed a petrol station.
The explosion happened at the Applegreen Service Station on the outskirts of the village of Creeslough, County Donegal, Ireland, just after 3pm today. It's sparked a major emergency plan at the nearby hospital, with medics understood to be treating a number of casualties there.
According to to the Daily Mirror Sinn Féin TD for Donegal, Pearse Doherty, said there were still people trapped at the scene.
Images show the main part of the building, which also contains apartments and a shop, has been severely damaged from the explosion. A number of cars that were lined up on the forecourt have also been damaged as a result of falling debris, with concerned onlookers left shocked at the destruction.
Emergency vehicles, including fire brigades and ambulances, swarmed the scene after reports of people being trapped, with the cause of the explosion not yet confirmed. The Irish Coastguard also dispatched a rescue helicopter.
Local farmers’ tractors were reportedly on hand to help dig out some of the rubble. Independent Donegal councillor John O'Donnell said he was praying there were no fatalities.
"What we're hearing is there's just absolute carnage in Creeslough at the moment, there's a massive gas explosion," he told BBC Radio Ulster.
"The feedback I'm getting from family and friends who are unfortunately down at the scene and in the area is just that the whole place is chaos at the minute, everybody's very, very taken back and devastated of what's happening."
Roads into the village have been cordoned off, the Irish Mirror reports, with the public urged to stay away.
One eyewitness tweeted: "Thoughts and prayers for the people of Creeslough, Co. Donegal. Apparently the local petrol station exploded. Hope everyone is ok."
Another local said they heard the explosion from 5km away.
One local woman told Independent.ie: "It's just awful. We don't really know what happened because we're down at the opposite end of the town, but it doesn't look good.
"The whole is town is closed up, all the roads are blocked and there's nobody going nowhere. There's nowhere to go."
A spokesperson for Letterkenny University Hospital said: "Letterkenny University Hospital is dealing with a serious incident, with multiple injured people requiring immediate attention. The hospital has moved to Major Emergency Standby as it deals with this incident.
"We are appealing to the public not to come to the Emergency Department unless it is an emergency. Please contact your GP or NOW doc service in the first instance. NowDoc has increased staffing this evening to help deal with any additional demands."
Gardaí confirmed its officers were assisting other emergency services at the scene of a "serious incident" and asked drivers to avoid the area.
Meanwhile, a National Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "A number of ambulances are attending the scene of a serious incident at a service station in Creeslough, Co Donegal.
"Please avoid this area at the moment if possible."
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it is assisting fire crews from Donegal Fire Service at a “declared major incident” at the Applegreen service station in Cresslough, Co Donegal.
In a tweet it said: “NIFRS are currently supporting colleagues from Donegal Fire Service to a declared major incident at Applegreen filling station, Cresslough, Co Donegal.
“NIFRS have dispatched the specialist rescue team along with specialist officers.”
A spokesperson for Applegreen added: "Applegreen is aware of a serious incident at its dealer-operated location at Creeslough in Co Donegal.
"Emergency services are on the scene and are dealing with the incident."
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