Updated 08.35am

A CRASH BETWEEN a saloon car and a minibus in Farranfore, Co Kerry left a number of people, including children, injured.

The collision occurred at around 5.30pm yesterday afternoon. In a statement, the HSE said 15 people were injured. Four were adults and 11 of them were children.

The ambulance service deployed 10 ambulances, two rapid response vehicles, an intermediate care vehicle, two doctors and an ambulance service manager to the scene to manage the operation.

Four helicopters were also dispatched to the scene – two from the Irish Coastguard service and two from the Air Corps. The HSE said six casualties were airlifted to Cork University Hospital and nine were removed to Kerry General hospital.

As is normal practice in a large scale accident, Kerry General has activated its Emergency Response Plan to enable it to provide a full response to the emergency.

Commenting on the incident, Cathal O’Donnell, Medical Director for the National Ambulance Service, described it as a “very serious accident”.

He said the training and experience of the NAS personnel was put into practice quickly. He also thanked the other emergency services which offered their support, helping to transfer the “more seriously injured patients”.

Read: Man killed as car crashes into pole in Donegal>