King Charles has extended his condolences to the people of Ireland following the “appallingly tragic” explosion at a Co Donegal service station that killed 10 people.
A five-year-old girl and her father, who were buying a birthday cake, were among those who died in the devastating explosion in the village of Creeslough on Friday afternoon.
In a message to the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, the King said his and the Queen Consort’s sympathies are with those who have lost loved ones.
“My wife and I were filled with immense sadness when we heard of that appallingly tragic explosion at Creeslough, County Donegal,” he said.
“We remember with the greatest fondness meeting people from across Donegal when we visited in 2016 and the strong sense of community that exists there.
“However inadequate this may be under such shattering circumstances, we wanted you to know that our most heartfelt sympathy and deepest condolences are with those families and friends who have lost their loved ones in this devastating tragedy, together with yourself and the people of Ireland.”
King Charles has extended his condolences to the people of Ireland following the “appallingly tragic” explosion at a Co Donegal service station.
Twitter: Royal Family
In a message to the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, the King said his and the Queen Consort’s sympathies are with those who have lost loved ones.
Kirsty O'Connor
Earlier on Monday a doctor said the death toll from the explosion could have been twice as high if the blast had happened five minutes earlier.
Village GP Dr Paul Stewart said a group of school children had been sitting on a wall of the service station and convenience store just before it was buried by falling rubble.
Ireland’s police force, An Garda Siochana, continues to investigate the cause of the blast, which is being treated as a “tragic accident”.
A gas leak is one theory, it is believed.