Seven people have now been confirmed dead following an explosion at a petrol station in Donegal.
A further eight people are being treated in hospital for their injuries as a major search by emergency workers from both sides of the Irish border continues of the devastated site in the village of Creeslough.
The blast on Friday afternoon ripped through the Applegreen service station and convenience store causing widespread damage, including to surrounding buildings and cars.
Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin has described it as the “darkest of days” for Donegal and Ireland.
Sniffer dogs are being used in the rescue operation and at one point on Friday night all machinery was turned off and onlookers were asked to remain completely silent as workers attempted to detect survivors beneath the debris.
Having announced three fatalities on Friday night, Irish police confirmed a further four deaths in a statement on Saturday morning.
The force said a search and recovery operation for “further fatalities” was continuing.
No indication has been given on the suspected cause of the explosion.
Mr Martin said: “My thoughts and prayers are today with those who have lost their lives, and those injured in the devastating explosion in Creeslough.
“I wish to express my deepest sympathies to their family, and friends, and to the entire community of Creeslough, on this darkest of days for Donegal and the entire country.
“People across this island will be numbed by the same sense of shock and utter devastation as the people of Creeslough at this tragic loss of life.
“I would like to thank all the members of the emergency services, from across the North-West and Northern Ireland, who responded so quickly to the scene, and who are working throughout the night in extremely traumatic circumstances.”
Councillor John O’Donnell told Sky News: “This is very, very hard here in a small rural village.
“Everybody’s completely numb here – we’re just all in shock.”
Local priest John Joe Duffy said: “We’re just broken-hearted, everyone is broken-hearted, we’re lost for words.
“What I’m appealing for is for the prayers of the people across this county and across the country, to pray for us, to help us and to give us strength to get through these difficult hours and difficult days that may lay ahead.”
Donegal MP Joe McHugh said friends and families of people feared missing were going through a very difficult waiting period.
“We’re just waiting here, my sympathies and thoughts are with a lot of families here and their friends and loved ones, there is a very difficult waiting period now,” he said.
Applegreen Ireland directing manager Fiona Matthews said the company was “deeply saddened and shocked to learn the devastating news that lives have been lost in today’s tragic incident”.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the deceased, those who have been injured, and the wider Creeslough community,” she said.
“Creeslough is a small village and the supermarket and Applegreen outlet operated by our local partners there are at the heart of the community.
“Like the rest of Ireland, tonight we stand in solidarity with that community.”
Source: Skynews