The memory of 10 victims of the devastating explosion at a gas station in Ireland is being commemorated.
Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin, who visited the site of the blast in Crislough, County Donegal, on Saturday night (local time) said the whole nation was mourning the tragedy.
What caused the explosion?
Irish police believe the blast that rocked the Applegreen service station, shop and adjoining buildings was accidental.
“As a police service, we have to keep an open mind in how we investigate this, but our information at this time points to a tragic incident,” Superintendent David Kelly said at a news conference.
Photos from the scene show a two-story apartment building above a gas station store with blown-out walls and a partially collapsed roof, with debris strewn across the area where several cars were parked.
Irish police believe the blast that rocked the Applegreen service station, shop and adjoining buildings was accidental. Source: Getty / Charles McQuillan
Who are the victims?
A powerful explosion claimed the lives of four men and three women. Children were also killed, including a girl of primary school age and two teenagers.
Eight people are being treated in hospital, including one who was airlifted to Dublin with serious injuries.
All 10 victims were from the wider Krysla area.
A major rescue and recovery operation involving emergency services from both sides of the Irish border and many volunteers from the local community continued into Friday night and into Saturday (local time).
Bernard Doherty, who lives nearby and knew all but one of the victims, told national broadcaster RTE that he and others began clearing the debris with tractors and trailers before the Irish coastguard and a specialist rescue team from neighboring Northern Ireland joined emergency services. at the scene. .
“The rubble was spread across the territory up to the road. Everything was lying here: from sheet metal to blocks, floor slabs, contents from the store,” he said, adding that one person was pulled out alive.
“About 20 seconds after landing on the stage, we knew what was coming.”
A major rescue and recovery operation involving emergency services from both sides of the Irish border and many volunteers from the local community continued into Friday night and into Saturday (local time). Source: Getty / Charles McQuillan
What did the politicians say?
Speaking at a cordon around the site of the blast on Saturday night, Mr Martin said there was “deep sadness” and an “eerie silence” in the village, reflecting the scale of what had happened.
“The whole nation is grieving and grieving deeply,” he said.
“A small child in the shop and two teenagers and men and women who were also going about their lives.
“It’s a very tight-knit community and our hearts go out to them.
Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin (centre), who visited the site of the blast on Saturday night, said the whole nation was grieving after the tragedy. Source: Getty, AFP / Pavel Vera
“Talking to those on the front lines and everyone involved, they were very excited about the overwhelming support they received from the community here almost immediately.
“Many volunteers rushed to the scene to try and do what they could to help because it was a horrific scene that they came across and we must always remember our emergency services.”
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou Macdonald, leader of Ireland’s main opposition party, also visited Chrisla on Saturday night, as did the country’s deputy prime minister, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.
Political leaders later joined emergency workers and local residents in a vigil for the victims at a nearby church.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverley also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/a-petrol-station-explosion-has-killed-10-people-in-ireland-heres-what-we-know-so-far/61zh7g3vr
