Taoiseach Micheál Martin has urged the people of Ireland to help the community of Creeslough get through the “terrible tragedy” after an explosion tore through an apartment block and roadside service station killing ten people, including two teenagers and a child, in Co Donegal.
The Taoiseach’s comments come as eight people, including children, have been brought to hospital for treatment.
Speaking at the cordon of the blast site, Mr Martin said there was “deep sadness” in the village and a “terrible silence” reflecting the enormity of what has happened.
“The entire nation is mourning and deeply saddened,” he said.
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“A young child in the shop and two teens as well as men and women who were going about their lives as well.
“It is a very close-knit community and our heart goes out to them.”
Mr Martin praised emergency services, volunteers and emergency workers in Northern Ireland who helped out in the search operation.
“Talking to those on the front line and everyone involved, they were very moved by the extraordinary support they got from the community here almost immediately.
“Many volunteers rushed to the scene to try and do everything they could to help because it was an horrific scene they came upon and we must always remember our emergency services.
“I want to thank them for helping those who were trapped and injured. We must do everything we can to support the community.
“Words on their own will not console someone who has lost a loved one and we have to be with them. We will be with them for quite some time.”
The Taoiseach described the incident as “a very, very sad day for Creeslough”, adding that it was also a sad day “for the entire country because we can feel it across the length and breadth of country”.
Mr Martin said that a range of supports will be provided to the community and local schools. Speaking earlier on Saturday, he said the Government will do everything in its power to help the families after a “dark day for the people of Donegal and Ireland”.
“The scale and enormity of it in such a small community means that almost everybody will know on a friendly basis obviously people who have lost their lives,” he said.
Also commenting earlier, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said Ireland’s collective heart has stopped at the unfolding horror of the “freak” explosion. Mr Varadkar described the scenes in the closely-knit village near Dunfanaghy and overlooking Sheephaven Bay as like something from a “horror movie”.
“I think this is only the beginning,” the Fine Gael leader said.
“Obviously the rescue effort is the most important thing now, but I know the effects of this will be felt for years.
“Even thinking ahead to Christmas, it is going to be empty places at dinner tables, and it is very important that we think ahead to the kind of psychological supports that need to be put in.”
Mr Varadkar said “no words can describe what has hit everyone like a bolt from the blue on a Friday afternoon.”
A major national emergency plan has swung into effect, involving every Government department and agency, but no one ever expected planning for such an event to actually be needed, the Tánaiste added.
“You read these things on paper every now and again.. you even do an exercise or a dry run but you still don’t think they are really going to happen,” he said.
“But sadly they do. It has happened on this occasion.”
Mr Varadkar said some of the injuries suffered by survivors are “very severe” and Dublin’s St James’s Hospital was involved in the effort, along with Letterkenny General Hospital.
“I can’t remember the last time we had this many people killed in any one incident in Ireland,” the Tánaiste told Donegal’s Highland Radio.
“It is the kind of thing you see on the news happening far away or even in a horror movie. But it is very real,” he said.
“You just think this can’t be happening at a service station in a small town in Ireland. But it has and it still seems a bit surreal to be frank.”
In a statement, Mr Varadkar added that “the nation’s collective heart stopped when the news broke” of an “unthinkable tragedy” wreaked on “families who were going about their daily lives like we do.”
“This freak accident has left many empty chairs at dinner tables. It is just too hard to fathom. The sadness is incomprehensible,” he added.
“When something like this happens it’s almost impossible to absorb the horror of it.”
Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue, from Co Donegal, said it was “a national tragedy” reminiscent of the darkest days of The Troubles.
“Everyone is numb to what happened, the scale of what has happened,” he said at the scene.
“It is not like anything we have seen before. Really it brings your mind back to some of the scenes we would have seen during the Troubles years ago. It is real devastation here and a devastated community as a result of the loss of so many loved ones.”
Families have suffered an “unbelievably harrowing night” and are still waiting for news about their loved ones, Mr McConalogue said.
“It is people’s worst nightmare and everyone will be rallying around to support one another in the days ahead,” he added.
“We have had dark days in the county before but this is one of our darkest.. so many lives changed yesterday and unfortunately lives ended yesterday.. Loved ones have a very challenging time ahead.”
Minister for the Environment and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the setting of a “bustling petrol station and shop on a busy Friday afternoon is something that people in almost every town can identify with.”
“This is a truly dark and awful event that has numbed the country,” he said.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said he is “stunned and saddened” by the tragedy.
“All of my thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones, those recovering, and the local community of Creeslough,” Mr Donnelly said.
“I would like to thank all the members of the community, National Ambulance Service, Fire Brigade and the staff of Letterkenny Hospital who responded with heroism and haste and tirelessly worked throughout the night in this devastating situation.
“I would also like to give special thanks to the staff of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance who came to the assistance of their colleagues.”
Bishop of Raphoe Alan McGuckian said the “heartbreaking human tragedy” was “the darkest day in Donegal.”
Bishop McGuckian, who travelled to Creeslough on Friday and will remain in the village over the weekend along with his Church of Ireland counterpart Bishop Andrew Forster, said family members are “in terrible shock and pain.”
“I have witnessed at first hand the immediate reaction of the local community to the tragedy who, in their bravery, took risks at the site to help others even to the detriment of their own safety,” he said.
Earlier on Saturday, leading a torrent of tributes to those killed, their loved ones and emergency services still working through the rubble in the aftermath of the incident, President Michael D Higgins said all of Ireland stands shocked at the “terrible tragedy”.
“May I, as President, express what I know will be the shock shared by all people throughout the country on learning of the terrible tragedy which has unfolded in Creeslough, Co Donegal,” he said.
“All of our thoughts must go out to all of those who have been affected. Those who have received news of the loss of a loved one, those injured and, most of all, those who are waiting with anxiety for news of their loved ones.
“This tragedy is a terrible blow to a community that is closely knit and where every loss and injury will be felt by every member of the community and far beyond.”
President Higgins said “special tribute” must be paid to local community and emergency services “across the island who have reacted so swiftly to the scene of the explosion and have continued to work through the night.”
“All of our best thoughts and prayers go to those who have lost their lives and their families,” he said.
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said there is “shock right across the island” and further afield among the global Irish diaspora as people think of “those who didn’t come home.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with families and friends of those who tragically lost their lives, those who were injured, and those still holding vigil waiting on news of their loved ones,” she said.
“We send love and solidarity to the people of Creeslough who this morning woke to incredible sorrow.”
Ms McDonald also praised emergency services working since Friday afternoon to rescue survivors and recover bodies and those still missing.
“This is a devastating loss for a small community,” she said.
“There is shock right across the island and among Irish people everywhere. We are all holding our loved ones a little closer and a little tighter this morning.
“We are thinking of those who went to a petrol station on a Friday afternoon but didn’t come home. We are all standing in solidarity with the community in Creeslough in the difficult hours that lie ahead.”
Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable Simon Byrne said: “Our thoughts this morning are with those affected by the unfolding tragedy in Creeslough.”
Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman offered his “deepest sympathies to the families of those who have died in Creeslough and to the community across Donegal.”
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said Ireland was holding the families and community in its hearts as a “deep sadness and numbing grief engulfs our country.”
Labour leader Ivana Bacik described the events as “heartbreaking” and “terrible”, adding: “All thoughts, sympathies and solidarity with the community in Co Donegal following this awful tragedy.”
SDLP MLA Cara Hunter said “there are no words that could comfort these families today.”
“My heart is with all those who’ve died, been injured and those still without answers,” she said.
“Thank you to emergency services for their hard work.. such a sad time for this close knit community.”
The Women’s Council of Ireland said its thoughts were with the families of the dead, injured and missing after the explosion which was “devastating for everyone.”
Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Denis Nulty said: “As the sun rises this day over Creeslough and over all of us on this island, may the community there know that they are in our prayers, those who are bereaved, those searching through the rubble, those waiting for news of loved ones.”