Rain in the east pushes river levels even higher

High winds and the heaviest rains since Hurricane Charlie left widespread flooding and thousands of homes without power across the State yesterday. Dublin Corporation invoked the major emergency plan for the city last night as the main rivers threatened to break their banks. A number of homes were evacuated in Drumcondra where the Tolka overflowed, and there was flooding at Chapelizod and Islandbridge as the continuing rain, high tide and a controlled release of flood waters from the ESB's Poulaphouca reservoir swelled the level of the Liffey.

Elsewhere in Leinster dozens of people were evacuated from their homes in Arklow, Co Wicklow, where the town was cut off by flooding. Clonmel in Co Tipperary was badly hit and, as the river Blackwater continued to rise, Mallow and Fermoy in Co Cork were also under threat.

Met Eireann said the heaviest rain had fallen by yesterday afternoon, but persistent rain in the east would continue well into today, exacerbating the floods.

Rainfall in Dublin yesterday broke records for November. Baldonnell Aerodrome had 103 mm - about four inches - of rain between 6 p.m. Sunday and noon, almost twice the previous high for the month - 58.4 mm in 1996. Dublin Airport had a record 79 mm in the same period.

The north-west of the country largely escaped the deluge. Malin Head in Co Donegal had no rainfall and Belmullet, Co Mayo, had only 4 mm. Some 7,000 homes were without electricity during the day, mostly in the east, midlands, Cork, Kerry and Clare. The ESB said all available crews were doing repairs and by teatime about 1,000 homes were without power. Difficulties with access meant some "pockets" of the country would be without power overnight, particularly in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, and Ashford, Co Wicklow.

The ESB said it had no choice but to release water into the Liffey yesterday from the Poulaphouca reservoir in Co Wicklow. Spokesman Mr Michael Kelly said the inflow to the reservoir was 300 cubic metres - 66,000 gallons - per second and added: "There's only so much it can take".

The company resumed operating the power station after a 24-hour break to slow the rate of increase behind the dams, meaning 30 cubic metres was passing downstream. It warned that "spillway" gates might have to be opened but said the Poulaphouca dam was still functioning as a flood barrier.

A Dublin Corporation spokesman said it seemed the flooding was not worsening at high tide last night - about 8 p.m. - but it would be 4 a.m. to 5 a.m. before the effect of the ESB's controlled release was known.

The Small Firms Association warned of huge losses to business due to the storms. Its director, Mr Pat Delaney, said staff shortages and delivery difficulties were the main problems. The SFA said if half the workforce lost half an hour yesterday, 53,000 working days would be lost. On the basis of a phone survey of members, this was a "conservative" estimate of yesterday's damage.

The Health and Safety Authority warned building workers and farmers of the dangers of working at heights in high winds.

Building contractors were urged to check scaffolding and hoardings for stability, to ensure gates were securely fitted and to guard against debris being scattered by winds. Farmers were urged to secure gates, but warned against inspecting or repairing shed roofs in windy conditions.

HSE director general Mr Tom Walsh said: "High winds can make working conditions unsafe and anyone working in these conditions should be aware of the hazards. It is imperative that safety procedures are adhered to in order to ensure worker protection."

Met Eireann said the east could expect lighter but persistent rain today, before more showery weather spreading from the west yesterday covers the country. Winds will die down too, but after relatively dry days tomorrow and Thursday, another rainbelt could hit Ireland by the weekend.