The cross-border search and rescue effort was acclaimed following the devastating explosion at a gas station in County Donegal.
Rescuers from across Northern Ireland joined their colleagues in the Republic of Ireland on a desperate search through the rubble of Creslow village on Friday afternoon.
These included the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance.
Deputy Chief of Fire and Rescue Service Paul Harper said he sent his specialist rescue team from Belfast to the incident with a support unit at Strabane Command, with other emergency services working in hopes of saving the survivors trapped in the rubble early Saturday. done. ,
Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin said solidarity “will be remembered for a long time”.
“We would like to pay tribute to all essential services, which have worked overnight, sometimes in danger, to save the population and do everything possible to bring comfort to the population,” he said.
“Health, Fire Brigade, Gardai, our emergency services at all levels, throughout the North West, and in particular from our partners in Northern Ireland, Fire Brigade and Ambulance, who came voluntarily and very quickly to help those affected by this.
“We will remember it for a long time. This solidarity and the strong sense of community between essential services.
that’s being a good neighbor
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson thanked the emergency services and expressed solidarity with the friends and families of the mourners.
“We would like to thank all the emergency services that have worked to save lives on both sides of the border, including Tyrone and Londonderry counties,” he said at the conference on Saturday. of the party in Belfast. Everyone joined the rescue. afternoon
“This is what it means to be a good neighbor.
“I want to reassure the people of Chrislow about our collective prayers and I want them to know that they will continue to be in our thoughts for days to come.”