Gardaí are continuing to investigate the cause of Friday’s devastating explosion in Creeslough.
Speaking at a press conference today Superintendent Liam Geraghty acknowledged representatives from state and voluntary services which have provided invaluable support over the past 24 hours.
Superintendent Geraghty also confirmed the death toll has now risen to ten.
“The emergency services continue a search and recovery operation on the site this afternoon but based on the information available to An Garda Síochana at this time it is not expected that there will be any further casualties located and there are no outstanding reports of unaccounted for persons.
“The ten casualties are four men, three women, two teenagers, a boy and a girl and a younger girl,” he said.
Gary Martin, Director of Emergency Services at Donegal County Council provided a briefing on the ongoing Local Authority and Fire Service response.
“ Our primary focus yesterday was to lead on the search and recovery of the injured and to stabilise what was a substantially damaged building including many displaced and broken concrete slabs.
“Over the course of last night and following a detailed analysis of the site by our crews, aided by search dogs and cameras the incident moved into a search recovery phase.
“We will remain on site in an ongoing search and check phase to ensure there are no remaining casualties in the building.
“I’d like to acknowledge the cooperation of everyone involved as we went about our work yesterday and today and in particular our major emergency management colleagues and the primary response agencies of the Gardaí and the HSE,” he said
JJ McGowan, Chief Ambulance Officer for the Western Region of the National Ambulance Service said on behalf of the HSE and the National Ambulance Service he wanted to express his deepest sympathies in relation to this terrible tragedy which unfolded in Creeslough yesterday.
“We will continue our efforts to work with our colleagues in the Gardaí and fire service until all recovery efforts have concluded.
“Yesterday we transported eight patients from the scene, one of whom was critical and was further transported to a hospital in Dublin, seven of the patients transported at this time remain in a stable condition,” he said.
Superintendent David Kelly of Milford Garda Station said this is a tragedy for our community and there are families left devastated.
“We are working in consultation with the coroner in that regard we have put a family liaison office in place for the families of the deceased, we are also working with the HSE in terms of the local community as well in terms of offering psychological safety to the families and the wider community,” he said.
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