Irish police have confirmed there have been three fatalities in an explosion at a petrol station in County Donegal, as the emergency search operation continues at the site of the blast. Rescuers using sniffer dogs were digging for people trapped in debris on Friday night after a large explosion destroyed the petrol station and damaged apartments, causing multiple injuries. Helicopters airlifted injured people from the scene after the blast wrecked an Applegreen forecourt and adjacent homes and shops outside the village of Creeslough, near the Republic of Ireland’s north-western tip. The explosion at about 3.15pm was heard several miles away. It collapsed the roof of a two-storey block of flats and blanketed the forecourt in rubble and glass. The site includes a petrol station, shop, deli counter and post office. RTÉ reported that up to 30 people may have been injured. Police sealed off the area while fire crews, ambulances and helicopters extracted and transported wounded people to a hospital at Letterkenny, 15 miles away. Lights illuminated the scene as operators of digging equipment combed through the rubble. The coast guard set up a landing zone in Phoenix Park in Dublin, 160 miles away. A specialist rescue team from the Northern Ireland fire service crossed the border to help search for survivors. The Irish police force, An Garda Síochána, released a statement at around 10.30pm confirming the three deaths. It added: “This continues to be an ongoing operation and An Garda Síochána are not in a position to provide further information on casualties at this time.” Relatives of people believed to have been at the service station had gathered at the scene. “Everybody is holding on hoping they can make contact with their loved ones,” Pearse Doherty, a Sinn Féin member of parliament, told RTÉ. “It is very sombre, there’s silent prayers being said, there are people still trapped within the building and the emergency services are doing everything they can to remove the rubble. “This is something that’s your worst nightmare. This is a dark, dark cloud for the entire community. “This is a very busy locality near the shop and 3pm is a busy time. People are collecting their pensions and kids are just finishing school. “It’s surreal and people are holding on for hope, to hear positive news coming from emergency services.” The taoiseach, Micheál Martin, said his thoughts and prayers are with the entire community of Creeslough. “Thinking too of all the emergency services, from across the north-west and NI working in very traumatic situation,” he tweeted. Ireland’s foreign minister, Simon Coveney, said it was a “very sad and tragic day”. He thanked Northern Ireland’s health minister, Robin Swann, for sending emergency crews. In a post on Twitter, Coveney said: “Sincere thanks for your help today Robin. Very sad and tragic day.” Letterkenny university hospital implemented a major emergency protocol and said it was treating multiple people requiring immediate attention. A community hall in Creeslough provided shelter for people whose homes were damaged and who were waiting for news of loved ones. John O’Donnell, an independent councillor, told BBC Radio Ulster he had been told the explosion had been caused by gas and had seriously injured many people. “Everybody is very taken aback and devastated at what is happening. It is something that we haven’t seen in the area in my lifetime. It’s very traumatising for everybody.”