Gardaí have provided an update to the public.
Updated: 6.10pm
The death toll following an explosion at a petrol station in Donegal has risen to 10.
The blast occurred at around 3.20pm on Friday (7 October) at the Applegreen Service Station in Creeslough.
At a briefing on Saturday afternoon, Gardaí confirmed that there have been 10 fatalities as a result of the explosion.
Among the 10 people were four men, three women, a male teenager, a female teenager and a female child.
Also during the briefing, Chief Ambulance Officer with HSE West JJ McGowan said that eight patients were transported from the scene on Friday, one of whom was in critical condition and further taken to a hospital in Dublin.
He stated that the other seven patients remain in stable condition at this time.
Meanwhile, Superintendent David Kelly of Milford Garda Station told the briefing:
“We have to keep an open mind as a police service 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’re going at the moment.”
In a later statement on Saturday evening, a Garda spokesperson said a search operation at the scene has concluded and no further casualties have been located.
“The Garda Technical Bureau has commenced an examination of the scene, with assistance from other expert agencies including the Health and Safety Authority and national utility companies,” they added.
“The local Corner and the Office of the State Pathologist have been notified and post-mortem examinations will take place over the coming days.”
The spokesperson also said that Garda Family Liaison Officers have been appointed and are providing support and information to those impacted by the explosion.
Meanwhile, an incident room has been established at Milford Garda Station.
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