Two men have died after the car in which they were travelling left the road and crashed into a flooded ditch near Ballina, Co Mayo.
The pair, who have not yet been publicly named, are both in their late teens and lived with their families in Ballina. They were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Three other people – two males in their mid teens and a woman in her late teens – were taken by ambulance to Mayo University Hospital.
Gardaí said their injuries are not life-threatening.
The crash took place at about 4.15am at a location known as Laghtadawanannagh, on a local link road near Ballina. There were no other vehicles involved.
The minor route links the Killala road out of Ballina with the Ballina to Crossmolina road.
Michael Loftus, a member of Mayo County Council, said his “heart goes out” to the families of the dead men. “This tragedy has dealt them and the entire community them a shocking, numbing blow from which it will be difficult to recover”.
Loftus, a leading member of the Grainne Uaile Sub-Aqua Club and Search and Recovery Unit, said emergency services personnel faced distressing scenes when they arrived at the site of the crash.
“The first responders have to be commended for their actions in hugely difficult and trying circumstances,” he said.
A full Garda investigation is underway and postmortem examinations are to take place later at Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar.
The road has been closed for an examination by Garda forensic collision investigators and local traffic diversions were put in place.
The crash vehicle was removed from the site on Sunday afternoon for a full technical investigation.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Anyone with information, including dashcam footage, is asked to contact Ballina Garda station on 096 20560, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.