Further flooding possible, Met warns
Met Éireann has warned of further possible flooding throughout the country today after last night’s heavy rains left many areas severely hit by flooding.
The forecaster said a band of heavy rain with thunderstorms and hail will move northwards across the country before drier weather follows tomorrow.
Last night’s deluge left counties Cork and Antrim swamped as upwards of 50mm of rain fell in some areas.
Parts of Douglas, Togher, the South Ring Road and Kinsale on the outskirts of Cork city were worst affected, while the main arterial routes in east and south Belfast were impassable due to flood water and abandoned vehicles.
Gardaí report that several parts of Glanmire were badly flooded with several major roads in the area completely impassable after being submerged in water. The city centre has largely avoided flooding, with most damage being caused in built up environs in low-lying areas in the suburbs.
Emergency services in the city received 128 calls for help, including 45 callers needing direct rapid response.
Douglas village in Co Cork this morning. Photograph: Renate Murphy (@renatemurphy)
In west Cork, Clonakilty, Dunmanway and Ballinascarthy suffered serious flooding as did parts of Togher, Greenmount Cloghroe, Waterloo and Crookstown. Mallow in north Cork was also affected. Cork Civil Defence has units working in Ballyvolane which was badly hit and has other units in Glanmire.
In Co Cork, a teenager helping out with flood-protection work in Clonakilty had a lucky escape early this morning after he suffered an electrical shock from an ESB cable. The 16-year-old was helping to put sandbags in place near the Imperial Hotel in the town when a manhole cover lifted up and flood waters made contact with a live wire.
It’s understood that the teenager suffered a shock in the incident at around 4.30am but was not seriously injured and was treated locally.
Military personnel recovered an ambulance from a flood on the N71 overnight following a Garda request.
The flooding also led to thousands of homes in the region being left without power. But ESB this afternoon said power had been restored to all customers in Douglas, while 200 homes and businesses in the Bandon area and 400 in Clonakilty still had no electricity.
In Clonakilty, flood waters have continued to abate, and a major clean-up is under way in the west Cork town.
Severe flooding along the streets of Clonakilty, Co Cork this morning
The National Coordinating Group on Flooding was convened by the Department of the Environment at 9.30am and again at 2.30pm to monitor the situation and provide support for the local response, if required, the department said.
President of Cork Chamber John Mullins said the increase in localised flooding events in the region needs to be addressed.
“It is essential that the causes are investigated without delay and the necessary investments are made, accompanied by the implementation of planned warning systems," he said.
Mr Mullins also called on insurers to assess damaged businesses and properties as soon as possible to help them resume trading.
Cork city council said its flood emergency response plan swung into effect at 3.30am and the crisis management team met at 7am. It said staff from the fire and emergency services and roads and drainage units followed a swift and co-ordinated response to incidents throughout the morning.
