Multiple people trapped under rubble after Irish petrol station explodes, collapsing adjacent apartment building
- Local reports suggest several people seriously injured in petrol station blast
- Shop at Applegreen, Creeslough and homes above it were pictured hollowed out
- Irish Coast Guard and air ambulance rushed to the site this afternoon
- Emergency services also urged locals to avoid the site if possible
Ambulance crews rushed to a petrol station in north-western Ireland this evening after an explosion brought down the building and trapped people inside.
Several people are feared seriously injured in the blast at Applegreen Creeslough, County Donegal.
Local councillor John O’Donnell told BBC Radio Ulster the scene was ‘absolute carnage’ and that there was a ‘massive explosion’.
Homes above the Ulster petrol station and convenience store were pictured hollowed out by the blast.
Horror images taken by passersby showed the damage at Applegreen Creeslough around 5pm
Rubble covered the ground as members of the public searched the scene for injured people
Local Gardaí police and the National Ambulance Service (NAS) urged locals to avoid the area.
Emergency crews in a helicopter also rushed to the site.
Several people have been ‘seriously injured’, RTE reported.
The NAS wrote: ‘A number of ambulances are attending the scene of a serious incident at a service station in Creeslough, Co Donegal.
Emergency services told the public to avoid the area if possible to let crews do their work
‘Please avoid this area at the moment if possible.’
The Irish Coast Guard added after 5pm: ‘The Irish Coast Guard is assisting emergency services at the scene of a major incident in Creeslough Co. Donegal.
‘The Sligo based Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 118 and the Mulroy Coast Guard team are assisting the operation.’