The Donegal Gaelic football final between St Eunan's and Naomh Conaill - due to be played tomorrow - has been postponed after the explosion in Creeslough.

The Donegal Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) says all of the county's gaelic games this weekend have been put on hold "as a result of the terrible tragedy unfolding".

Image source, Inpho

In motorsport, the Donegal Harvest Rally - also scheduled for Sunday - has also been called off.

Donegal Motor Club says its "thoughts are with all who have been affected at this time".

Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin, who will travel to Creeslough this evening, says what happened in the village yesterday was an "unspeakable tragedy".

"The entire nation is shocked," he says.

Image source, Reuters

He makes a special mention of the fire and emergency crews from Northern Ireland who, he says, came quickly and willingly to help.

"That will be long remembered... that solidarity and that sense of strong community between the essential services."

The Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar, says the scale and the effect of the explosion in Creeslough is "too hard to fathom" and has left "many empty chairs at dinner tables".

"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," he said.

Image source, PA Media

"When something like this happens it’s almost impossible to absorb the horror of it.

"If there is any consolation, we can find it in the way that the community has rallied and come together."

Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour Party leader, praises the public in County Donegal who helped at the scene of the explosion yesterday.

Davy Wilson
BBC News NI in Creeslough

This is a County Donegal community that's been numbed and shattered.

In this small village, everyone knows one another - Creeslough's people are tight-knit.

Image source, PA Media

It's a peaceful, tranquil part of the county, not far from the mountains of Errigal and Muckish.

On any given Saturday, people would be going about their business - but not today.

Read more: 'Creeslough community struggles with scale of tragedy'

Claire Cronin, the US ambassador to Ireland, says she's praying for the victims of the Creeslough explosion and their families.

There could be another update from the emergency services later today, says Supt Liam Geraghty.

That depends on how the emergency services operation at the scene in Creeslough progresses, he confirms.

The explosion in Creeslough resulted in one of the "largest civilian causalities" in recent times, says Supt Liam Geraghty.

It was one of the largest to in the County Donegal region in "recent years or decades".

He confirms the search and recovery operation is continuing in order for the emergency services to be "100% sure" there are no further causalities.

Image source, PA Media

But he says: "Every person who was reported to us as being unaccounted for, we can now account for."

He says the priority is to ensure that there are no further causalities.

He confirms that an investigation will take place over the next few days to confirm the cause of the explosion.

The youngest of the victims was a girl, confirms Garda Supt Liam Geraghty.

It's understood that the bodies of all of those who died in the explosion have been taken from the scene to Letterkenny University Hospital, he says.

He says: "Everybody involved is local to the north Donegal or Creeslough area."

The response from the County Donegal community has been "overwhelming", says Garda Supt Liam Geraghty.

"They turned out in great numbers and gave great assistance to the emergency services," he says.

"It's remarkable and admirable as to how they reacted."

Garda Supt David Kelly says off-duty officers from surrounding areas Letterkenny, Ballyshannon and Buncrana attended the scene to help their colleagues deal with the aftermath of the explosion yesterday.

Image source, PA Media

"I'm proud to say I didn't have to ask for people to turn out for duty - they came in."

He says a family liaison officer has been put in place to support the families of those who have died.

The emergency services were on the scene of the blast in less than 10 minutes, says Garda Supt Liam Geraghty.

"It was a very, very traumatic scene that people came across," he says.

"It was a very confused scene as you can imagine.

"There was a lot of debris and very traumatised people."

JJ McGowan of the Irish ambulance service praises the work of the emergency services staff who've been working at the scene of the explosion since yesterday afternoon.

"To our staff including those in hospital and community health... words cannot describe your efforts.

"Each and everyone of you has gone above and beyond in your response."

Supt David Kelly: "We received great help from our colleagues in Northern Ireland.

"That's what it is to be in Donegal - we look out for each other."

Garda Supt David Kelly says: "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."

He described it as a "tragedy for our community", adding that families have been "left devastated".

"Forgive me for if I get a bit emotional because you're dealing with the public you know."

He says psychological support is being offered to the families affected by what happened and emergency services staff are being supported too.

Garry Martin of Donegal County Council says the emergency services will remain at the scene of the explosion to make sure there are no further causalities.

He confirms that 65 firefighters, a structural engineer and road service officers were sent to the petrol station after the blast.

He acknowledges the help provided by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) - some of its staff attended the scene with specialist equipment and search dogs.

Ambulance service official JJ McGowan says counselling and support services are available at Creeslough Community Day Centre.

Eight people were taken to hospital after the explosion, confirms JJ McGowan of the Irish ambulance service.

He says one person was in a critical condition and was taken to a Dublin hospital for treatment.

The other seven people are in a stable condition in hospital in Letterkenny.