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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Creeslough: Multiple people injured in Donegal explosion | Creeslough: Multiple people injured in Donegal explosion |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A number of people have been injured in an explosion in County Donegal. | A number of people have been injured in an explosion in County Donegal. |
| It happened at an Applegreen petrol station in the village of Creeslough on Friday afternoon. | It happened at an Applegreen petrol station in the village of Creeslough on Friday afternoon. |
| Sinn Féin TD for Donegal, Pearse Doherty, said that there were still people trapped at the scene. | Sinn Féin TD for Donegal, Pearse Doherty, said that there were still people trapped at the scene. |
| In a statement, Letterkenny University Hospital said it was dealing with "a serious incident involving multiple injured people requiring immediate attention". | In a statement, Letterkenny University Hospital said it was dealing with "a serious incident involving multiple injured people requiring immediate attention". |
| It said it had moved to "major emergency standby" as it dealt with the incident. | It said it had moved to "major emergency standby" as it dealt with the 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," the statement added. | "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," the statement added. |
| "NowDoc has increased staffing this evening to help deal with any additional demands." | "NowDoc has increased staffing this evening to help deal with any additional demands." |
| It is understood ambulances from Northern Ireland are assisting. | It is understood ambulances from Northern Ireland are assisting. |
| 'Dark cloud over Cresslough' | 'Dark cloud over Cresslough' |
| Pearse Doherty, said the incident was a "worst nightmare". | Pearse Doherty, said the incident was a "worst nightmare". |
| "This is a quiet, close-knit village and this is the only shop on the town. It's the petrol station, it's the deli counter and the Post Office is there," he said. | "This is a quiet, close-knit village and this is the only shop on the town. It's the petrol station, it's the deli counter and the Post Office is there," he said. |
| "At quarter past three a massive explosion, which could be heard for miles, around ripped right through the building. | "At quarter past three a massive explosion, which could be heard for miles, around ripped right through the building. |
| "There are people still trapped in the building and emergency services are doing everything they can," he said | "There are people still trapped in the building and emergency services are doing everything they can," he said |
| "People are being airlifted away to our hospitals," he added. | "People are being airlifted away to our hospitals," he added. |
| 'A waiting game' | |
| Donegal Fine Gael TD (Member of the Irish parliament the Dáil) Joe McHugh said people in the area were numb. | |
| "They're trying to find out about friends and relatives and playing a waiting game for news," he told BBC News NI. | |
| The emergency services have been at the scene since Friday afternoon | |
| "It's a very surreal situation here and we know there will be a difficult times ahead. | |
| "The building which this has happened at is somewhere people meet - it is a tragedy". | |
| Bishop of Raphoe, Fr Alan McGuckian, told BBC News NI everyone in the county was "shocked and shaken beyond words". | |
| Speaking from the scene he said Cresslough was a "peaceful and quiet town" and it was a "terrible day". | |
| "There is a dark cloud over Cresslough as this scene unfolds before us - it is very sombre here and there are silent prayers being said". | "There is a dark cloud over Cresslough as this scene unfolds before us - it is very sombre here and there are silent prayers being said". |
| Donegal independent councillor John O'Donnell said his understanding was that the incident was caused by a gas explosion. | Donegal independent councillor John O'Donnell said his understanding was that the incident was caused by a gas explosion. |
| "I am following emergency services here through Kilmacrennan on the way to Creeslough, there are more and more emergency services at the scene," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme. | "I am following emergency services here through Kilmacrennan on the way to Creeslough, there are more and more emergency services at the scene," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme. |
| "A lot of people very seriously injured - we haven't heard numbers yet," he said. | "A lot of people very seriously injured - we haven't heard numbers yet," he said. |
| 'The place is in chaos' | 'The place is in chaos' |
| "There are three helicopters at the scene - we have the mountain rescue helicopter, we have the RNLI and we also have the army helicopter. | "There are three helicopters at the scene - we have the mountain rescue helicopter, we have the RNLI and we also have the army helicopter. |
| "The feedback I am getting from family and friends who are unfortunately down at the scene and in the area is that the whole place is chaos at the minute. Everybody is very taken aback and devastated at what is happening. | "The feedback I am getting from family and friends who are unfortunately down at the scene and in the area is that the whole place is chaos at the minute. Everybody is very taken aback and devastated at what is happening. |
| "There is a large-scale rescue operation on the way and it is something that we haven't seen in the area in my lifetime It's very traumatising for everybody." | "There is a large-scale rescue operation on the way and it is something that we haven't seen in the area in my lifetime It's very traumatising for everybody." |
| BBC News NI North West Reporter Kieran Tourish | BBC News NI North West Reporter Kieran Tourish |
| This is a relatively small town outside Letterkenny. | This is a relatively small town outside Letterkenny. |
| A canopy on the forecourt has collapsed and there is an apartment block which sits behind the garage and that has suffered extensive damage too . | A canopy on the forecourt has collapsed and there is an apartment block which sits behind the garage and that has suffered extensive damage too . |
| The scene's been cordoned off over a wide area. | The scene's been cordoned off over a wide area. |
| Local people have been numbed by the sheer scale of the damage. | Local people have been numbed by the sheer scale of the damage. |
| They are fearing for those caught up in this explosion at this local family-run filling station | They are fearing for those caught up in this explosion at this local family-run filling station |
| Sinn Féin Councillor John Ó Fearraig said the rescue operation was likely to continue "well into the night". | Sinn Féin Councillor John Ó Fearraig said the rescue operation was likely to continue "well into the night". |
| "We don't know how many people are trapped in there, some are worried that family members are trapped, but we just don't know - it's a very confused picture," he said. | "We don't know how many people are trapped in there, some are worried that family members are trapped, but we just don't know - it's a very confused picture," he said. |
| "This happened at a time when the area would have been busy with the school run, people going in and out of the delicatessen and the hair salon on this site as well as the petrol station." | "This happened at a time when the area would have been busy with the school run, people going in and out of the delicatessen and the hair salon on this site as well as the petrol station." |
| Mr Ó Fearraig said stabilising the building was proving to be "a huge operation". | Mr Ó Fearraig said stabilising the building was proving to be "a huge operation". |
| "The community are rallying around obviously, helping to clear the rubble bit by bit, but the site itself is dangerous," he said. | "The community are rallying around obviously, helping to clear the rubble bit by bit, but the site itself is dangerous," he said. |
| The emergency services are at the scene | |
| He added that the community hall in the village was providing shelter to people in nearby houses whose windows were blown in or others waiting on news on their loved ones. | He added that the community hall in the village was providing shelter to people in nearby houses whose windows were blown in or others waiting on news on their loved ones. |
| The Sligo-based Irish Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 118 and the Mulroy Coast Guard team are assisting the operation. | The Sligo-based Irish Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 118 and the Mulroy Coast Guard team are assisting the operation. |
| In a statement, gardaí (Irish police) said they are "assisting other emergency services at the scene of a serious incident". | In a statement, gardaí (Irish police) said they are "assisting other emergency services at the scene of a serious incident". |
| They added that road users intending to travel to Creeslough should consider alternative routes. | They added that road users intending to travel to Creeslough should consider alternative routes. |
| The Irish Coast Guard is assisting emergency services at the scene of a major incident in Creeslough Co. Donegal. The Sligo based Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 118 and the Mulroy Coast Guard team are assisting the operation. https://t.co/doryTkL35R | The Irish Coast Guard is assisting emergency services at the scene of a major incident in Creeslough Co. Donegal. The Sligo based Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 118 and the Mulroy Coast Guard team are assisting the operation. https://t.co/doryTkL35R |
| The National Ambulance Service (NAS) said a number of ambulances are attending the scene and asked people to avoid the area. | The National Ambulance Service (NAS) said a number of ambulances are attending the scene and asked people to avoid the area. |