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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
Gareth Fullerton & Sarah Scott

Creeslough Applegreen explosion: Donegal GAA cancels all weekend fixtures following tragedy

Donegal GAA has postponed all club championship games including four county finals as a mark of respect for those who died in the Creeslough tragedy.

It was confirmed on Saturday that the death toll had risen to nine following an explosion at a petrol station in the Irish village.

A search and recovery operation is continuing in as rescue workers try to locate several people who are still missing.

Read more: Creeslough Applegreen explosion: Nine dead as search continues for further victims - LIVE updates

Friday afternoon's blast ripped through the Applegreen service station and convenience store and adjacent buildings.

Donegal GAA announced on Saturday morning that all games have been postponed.

The county board said: "The extent of fatalities and injuries at the terrible explosion this evening is not yet clear but there is little doubt that a tragedy of epic proportions is unfolding.

"The thoughts and prayers of everyone involved with CLG Dhún na nGall are with the community of Creeslough, the hardworking emergency services and the Gaels of CLG Naomh Micheál at this terrible time.

"All Donegal club championship games this weekend are being cancelled including the four county finals tomorrow afternoon and on Sunday."

Having announced three fatalities on Friday night, the Irish police force, An Garda Siochana, confirmed a further four deaths in a statement on Saturday morning. Then before lunch on Saturday, they confirmed it had risen to nine.

The force said: "An Garda Síochána continue to work with other Emergency Services at the scene of a serious ongoing incident that occurred at approximately 3:20pm on Friday, 7th October, 2022, at a premises on the N56 at Creeslough, County Donegal.

"Gardaí and Emergency Services remain at the scene in a search and recovery phase of this operation.

"An Garda Síochána can now confirm nine fatalities as a result of this incident. The search and recovery for further fatalities continues.

"An Garda Síochána continue to request that any road users intending to travel to the Creeslough area for any reason consider alternative routes as Emergency Services continue to deal with this ongoing incident. Traffic diversions remain in place at this time."

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