GARDAI have said they are not expecting any further casualties from the horror service station explosion in Co Donegal as there are no more people unaccounted for.
They have also confirmed that there are no more people unaccounted for and that all the victims are from the local area.
Ten people have died following the explosion at an Applegreen petrol station in Creeslough, Co Donegal.
Four men, three women, two teens and a little girl of primary school age have all tragically lost their live.
A further eight people, including children, have been brought to hospital to be treated for injuries.
One person remains in a critical condition at a Dublin hospital and the seven others are in a stable condition.
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Gardai said the explosion has resulted in the largest number of civilian casualty seen in decades in the region.
Superintendent Liam Geraghty said: “I can now confirm there are 10 fatalities as a result of the explosion. 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.
“The 10 casualties are four men, three women, two teenagers – a boy and a girl – and a younger girl.
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Superintendent David Kelly of Milford garda station added that gardai believe the horrific event was a “tragic accident”.
He 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 to 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.
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“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.”
John Joe McGowan, chief ambulance officer for the western region of the national ambulance service, said words cannot describe the efforts of emergency personnel.
He said: “Each and every one of you have gone above and beyond in your response.”
“We will continue our efforts and work with our colleagues in the gardai and the fire service until all recovery efforts have concluded.”
President Michael D Higgins said the entire country has been left shocked and saddened by the “terrible tragedy”.
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Taoiseach Micheal Martin also described the incident as the “darkest of days” for Donegal and Ireland.
He said: “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.”