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Three people have been killed in an explosion at a petrol station in Donegal, Ireland.
The blast happened just after 3pm at the Applegreen service station in the suburb of Creeslough and the search continued with the help of sniffer dogs.
Photos showed multiple cars damaged by debris and what appeared to be an apartment building behind the front yard, mostly destroyed.
MP John O’Donnell earlier told Sky News: “In a small village it’s very, very difficult.
“Everyone here is completely numb – we’re all in shock.”
Shortly after the blast, a spokesman for Letterkenny University Hospital said it was “dealing with a serious incident with multiple injuries requiring immediate attention”.
“The hospital has entered a state of major emergency standby while dealing with this incident.
“We urge the public not to come to emergency departments unless it is an emergency.”
Forecourt retailer Applegreen confirmed a “serious incident” had occurred at a location operated by one of its dealers.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: “My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Creeslough community tonight after today’s devastating explosion.
“Think of all the emergency services from the Northwest and NI working in a very distressing situation.”
TD Pearse Doherty told RTE News: “It’s your worst nightmare.
“It’s a quiet village, a very tight-knit village, and it’s the only shop in town.
“It went right through the building, which was a very busy place at the time.”
Mr Doherty said it had left a “very, very dark cloud” for the community.
“People are praying silently, people are still trapped in the building, emergency services are doing what they can to clear the rubble and people are being airlifted to our hospitals in the area,” he said.
“It’s quiet and surreal. People are just waiting for hope, for positive news from emergency services.”
Those involved in the emergency response included Donegal County Council Fire Service, assisted by An Garda Siochana, National Ambulance Service, Irish Coast Guard, Coast Guard Rescue 118 Helicopter, Aer Lingus Medivac 112, Northern Ireland Ambulance Vehicle HEMS, Irish Community Air Ambulance (Ground Crew), Northern Ireland Urban Search and Rescue, Meavagh Fire Service, Donegal Mountain Rescue, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service HART Team (Hazardous Area Response Team) and Donegal County Council Residents Defend.
Residents were asked to stay away from the area.
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said it was a “very sad and tragic day”.
He thanked Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann for the emergency workers who helped with the Creslow situation.
In a post on Twitter, Mr Coveney said: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help today Robin. Very sad and tragic day.”
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