SEVERAL fatalities are feared after a huge suspected gas explosion ripped through an Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal.
It is believed up to 30 people were in the service station, shops and apartment complex when the explosion occurred shortly after 3pm. Last night, emergency workers tried desperately to reach a number of injured people trapped in the shop who remained in contact with them by phone.
Just seven miles from the Dunfanaghy holiday destination, the Creeslough Applegreen is popular stopping point for northern tourists travelling to west Donegal for holidays.
The shop and deli-food outlet also includes a hair salon, a post office and apartments which, it is understood, are owned by local people and visitors to the area.
It is understood several people were also trapped in cars in the forecourt of the business when the huge explosion brought the roof of the building and the forecourt canopy crashing down.
Medics and paramedics from Northern Ireland were drafted into help, alongside the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance, as a major incident was declared in the Co Donegal town.
Walking injured were transferred to a nearby nursing home for treatment. Throughout the evening, local people reported the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance and the Republic’s Coastguard helicopter flying in and out from the Wild Atlantic Camp Site, ferrying the injured to Letterkenny University Hospital.
A local priest was comforting family members outside the cordon as they awaiting news from relatives feared seriously injured in the explosion.
A spokeswoman for Letterkenny 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.”
The spokeswoman urged the public not to approach the hospital’s emergency department unless it was an emergency but to contact their GP or the county’s NowDoc service in the first instance.
All roads into Creeslough were closed as gardaí dealt with the incident.
Incoming taoiseach, Leo Varadkar described the explosion as “tragic”.
In a post on Twitter, the Tanaiste wrote: “Terrible news from Donegal tonight. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragic events and with the emergency services responding.”
Donegal Sinn Féin TD, Pearse Doherty said the explosion was heard over a wide area in west Donegal. Mr Doherty said people were in a state of shock. Mr Doherty, who went to Creeslough, said the scene was “surreal”.
The Donegal politician said the Applegreen was particularly business it was pension day and many people were visiting the post office while school pupils were calling at the complex as they returned from school. He said the back and front of the complex was blown off in the explosion.
“You know it’s very sombre here. There are silent prayers being said. There are people still trapped within the building and the emergency services are doing everything that they can to remove the rubble.
“People are being airlifted away to our hospitals in the region. This is a dark, dark cloud over the entire community of Creeslough and further afield today as this scene unfolds before us,” Mr Doherty said.
His party colleague, Letterkenny county councillor, Gerry McMonagle said there was a feeling of panic throughout north Donegal.
“We don’t have a full picture yet but my thoughts are with all those who have been injured and I just hope that injuries can be kept to a minimum. We’re all thinking of the people caught up in this and their families,” Mr McMonagle said.
Donegal Fianna Fáil councillor and All Ireland-winning GAA captain, Anthony Molloy said he was friends of the family which owned the Applegreen service station.
“It looks terrible. It’s just terrible. I know the family; it’s beyond words,” he said.
Former first minister Arlene Foster was among those who shared their shock on social media.
"Dreadful news from Donegal. Praying that those injured will make a good recovery," she wrote on Twitter.
Today’s Harvest Stages rally, a major event on the motor sport calendar in County Donegal, has been called off in light of the tragedy.
