A teenage girl who is among the 10 people who died after an explosion at a petrol station in Donegal has been named as Leona Harper.
Letterkenny Rugby Club paid tribute to a "talented rugby player" and an "important part of our U14 girls' team" in a post on their Facebook page.
The club said: "We are heartbroken to say our worst fears have been confirmed... to Leona's parents, Hugh and Donna, her brothers Anthony and Jamie, and all of her team mates, we offer you our deepest condolences and support.
"There are no words that feel strong enough at a moment of deep sorrow such as this.
"Rest in peace, Leona."
Jessica Gallagher, who was understood to have been in her early 20s; shop worker Martina Martin; Catherine O'Donnell and her son James; and Hughie Kelly, have all been named locally as among those who died in Friday's blast.
Four others, including a girl of primary school age, were also killed.
Ireland's prime minister Micheal Martin earlier visited the scene and said the "entire nation is mourning" after the disaster.
He added: "A young child in a shop loses her life, and two teenagers along with men and women who were going about their lives.... The emergency services, they had been in the shop earlier, some of them. It just shows fate, in terms of what life can bring, with no notice... It's truly a shocking, tragic event."
Police confirmed that all of the victims were from the Creeslough area where the blast ripped through the Applegreen service station and convenience store causing widespread damage, including to surrounding buildings and cars, on Friday.
Search and rescue efforts are continuing but police have said they are not expecting further casualties.
A Garda spokesman also said there are "no outstanding reports of unaccounted for persons".
Superintendent David Kelly from Milford Gardai said in a news conference on Saturday: "At this moment in time we have to keep an open mind as a police service as to how we investigate this, but our information at this point in time is pointing towards a tragic accident.
"That said, being a garda, I have to take a holistic and overall viewpoint, but that's where we're going at the moment."
Gardai said the explosion caused the largest number of civilian casualties seen in decades in the region.
Mr Kelly earlier said: "This is a tragedy for our community. There are families left devastated.
"I want to offer, on behalf of myself and my colleagues that attended the scene, our very sincere condolences."
John Joe McGowan, chief ambulance officer for the western region of Ireland's national ambulance service, said words cannot describe the efforts of emergency services in Creeslough.
"Each and every one of you have gone above and beyond in your response," he said, extending particular thanks to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance for their support.
"We will continue our efforts and work with our colleagues in the gardai and the fire service until all recovery efforts have concluded."
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has now left Creeslough after helping with the rescue effort in the wake of the explosion.
Sniffer dogs have been used and a digger has been sifting through the debris, with rubble being taken away by trailer.
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.
'Within seconds the area was covered in ash'
Having announced three fatalities in the aftermath of the tragedy, Irish police confirmed the seven further deaths on Saturday.
No indication has been given on the suspected cause of the explosion.
A witness to the blast, Siobhan Carr, said: "Within seconds the area was covered in ash and a puff of smoke.
"From that, we kind of run out to see what had happened and within seconds, people from the community had just come running up the road, cars stopped, people getting out of cars, running towards the building to see who could help."
Disaster-hit community wrestles with 'tsunami of grief'
It would be difficult to exaggerate the sense of shock in Creeslough.
This tiny, picturesque village in County Donegal is attempting to comprehend an enormous tragedy.
There is an eerie silence, people numbed by what has happened here.
Parish priest, Father John Joe Duffy, told me he was dealing with "a tsunami of grief".
He has been providing pastoral support to the bereaved and those still waiting for news.
The petrol station was a community hub and would have been packed at the time of the explosion.
Local people were digging through the rubble in an attempt to rescue those trapped when help arrived.
Fire and ambulance services from Northern Ireland crossed the border to assist their colleagues.
People have been arriving with hot food for emergency teams delicately searching the debris.
One local politician said: "We are seeing the best of this community as it faces its worst day."
'It's an unspeakable tragedy'
Ireland's deputy premier Leo Varadkar said: "This unthinkable tragedy happened in a community which we will all be familiar with, to families who were going about their daily lives like we do.
"This freak accident has left many empty chairs at dinner tables. It is just too hard to fathom."
Ireland's President Michael D Higgins said: "This tragedy is a terrible blow to a community that is closely knit and where every loss and injury will be felt by every member of the community and far beyond."
'Explosion ripped the heart out of this community'
Applegreen founder and chief executive Joe Barrett said: "This is a hugely tragic event, and I would like to offer our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased, and to the entire community in Creeslough.
"We are utterly shocked and saddened at what happened yesterday. I would also like to offer our thanks to the emergency services and first responders who are dealing with the incident."
Donegal TD Pearse Doherty said: "This explosion not only ripped the heart out of this building, but ripped the heart out of this community and left a huge amount of devastation."
'Tsunami of grief'
Prayers were said in the local church in Creeslough on Saturday morning, where the congregation was told there was a "tsunami" of grief in the community.
Father John Joe Duffy said: "From our hearts, with all our hearts and with all our souls, we pray for those who have died, we pray for those who were injured, we pray for all who were involved… we pray for those who are there continuing to help and have helped since yesterday.
"We pray also for those family members who are bereaved and we pray for those who still are waiting news.
"We keep them all very much in our hearts."
UK Prime Minister Liz Truss said in a tweet she was shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of life in Donegal.
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2022-10-08 20:05:08Z
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