Creeslough: Multiple people injured in Donegal explosion

Emergency services are at the scene of a reported explosion in county Donegal.

It happened at the Applegreen service station in Creeslough on Friday afternoon.

There are reports that a number of people have been seriously injured and ambulances are at the scene.

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.

“A lot of people very seriously injured, we haven’t heard numbers yet,” he said.

“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.

“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.”

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”.

They added that road users intending to travel to Creeslough should consider alternative routes.

Sinn Féin TD for Donegal Pearse Doherty described the news as “devastating”.

In a tweet, Applegreen said it was aware of a “serious incident at its dealer-operated location at Creeslough in Co Donegal”.