At least seven dead and several injured in an explosion at an Irish gas station

At least seven people were killed in an explosion at a gas station in northwestern Ireland on Friday. Police said eight people were also taken to hospital.

The blast occurred on Friday afternoon in the town of Creslow. Local media reported that the explosion was heard in the area. It is not yet clear what caused the explosion.

Three deaths were reported Friday night. During the night that number rose to seven.

The photos show that the gas station and its shop are in ruins. Severe damage was also caused to a number of neighboring apartments.

According to a local politician, the gas station and shop were busy at the time of the explosion. It is not clear how many people were inside or around.

Emergency services agreed on the site to get people out of the rubble. Irish Radio reported that rescue workers from Northern Ireland also came to Krislov RTE. “The search for and rescue of other victims is continuing,” the police said.

The Prime Minister talks about a “tragedy”

Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin speaks of “a tragedy for a small community of just a few hundred inhabitants”.

According to the prime minister, people across Ireland will be “as numb with a sense of shock and utter destruction” as the residents of Kreslav themselves. He thanks the emergency services, which “continue to operate non-stop under extremely distressing conditions.”