Update: Malin Coastguard have confirmed that five have died and an infant has been rescued after a family car reportedly entered Lough Swilly this evening.
The vehicle, which was carrying six, went off the pier in Buncrana at about 8pm this evening in what has been described as a “major tragedy”.
According to RTÉ, five bodies were recovered from the water. A baby was rescued alive and has been taken to hospital in Letterkenny.
Four people, including two children, are feared dead after an incident at a Donegal pier this afternoon.
According to The Independent, the family car is believed to have gotten into difficulty at a slipway in Buncrana, and may have gone in to Lough Swilly.
Tragedy unfolding in Buncrana tonight after a jeep with a family onboard went off the pier #Donegal. pic.twitter.com/vwsRH6NtZF
— Barry Whyte (@BarryWhyte85) March 20, 2016
According to the publication, local people have reported a number of incidents in recent months whereby cars parked on the slipway (which is covered in algae) have gotten into difficulty.
While details of the tragedy are still unclear, it has been confirmed that the Sligo 118 Coast Guard helicopter, RNLI crews and gardaí were involved in the attempted rescue of the family.
The children are understood to be of National School age.
