News

Roads closed as homes cut off by floods in Fermanagh

NIFRS Firefighter Nigel Quigley with volunteers from the Red Cross Neighbourhood Link Team provide support and assistance to the Fermanagh area, that has been badly affected by flooding.
NIFRS Firefighter Nigel Quigley with volunteers from the Red Cross Neighbourhood Link Team provide support and assistance to the Fermanagh area, that has been badly affected by flooding. NIFRS Firefighter Nigel Quigley with volunteers from the Red Cross Neighbourhood Link Team provide support and assistance to the Fermanagh area, that has been badly affected by flooding.

ALMOST 30 roads remained closed across the north last night following heavy flooding, with Co Fermanagh worst hit.

Snow fell across most of the north last night with drivers warned to take care on icy roads.

There were fears of further flooding amid warnings that the water level in Lough Erne had risen by five centimetres in just 24 hours.

The Fire Service and Red Cross were on stand-by last night to help people cut off by the flooding.

Fire Service western area commander Mark Deeney said yesterday morning firefighters and Red Cross volunteers brought essential items to a Lisnaskea family with five children.

He said the service will continue to work with bodies including Fermanagh & Omagh District Council to help people affected.

"The aim of this service is to ensure that members of the public affected by flooding in Fermanagh do not have to ring numerous organisations to get help or do not have to make unsafe journeys to access essential services," he said.

"These firefighters will work in support of local colleagues and Red Cross volunteers in helping members of the public to attend doctor or hospital appointments, collecting a prescription, collecting fuel and purchasing essential goods."

He warned people not to try to walk through flooded areas.

In the Castlefin area of Co Donegal, several families were forced to moved out of their homes due to flooding.

Meanwhile communities along the River Shannon face an agonising wait through the weekend to discover the scale of the flooding crisis with water levels not set to peak until Monday morning.

The river has been rising by eight centimetres daily around Athlone in Co Westmeath, while residents across Co Clare have been told to brace themselves for flooding levels to reach 2009 levels.

Almost 100 troops have been deployed by the Irish Defence Forces to help communities work on flood defence operations in counties Clare, Galway, Limerick and Westmeath.

Soldiers are working with residents, local authority workers, the Civil Defence and fire fighters to try and save as many properties as possible from the impending floods.

In Athlone, residents' problems are being exacerbated by tens of thousands of litres of raw sewage that are being carried onto streets by the floods while the Red Cross has been providing bottled water to families in areas where local supplies have become contaminated.

Clare County Council last night issued a severe flood warning for the entire county, saying "anticipated heavy rainfall (50-80mm), elevated water levels in waterways, saturated ground, spring tides and strong winds had greatly increased the risk of flooding".

The council had to request assistance from the army on Wednesday night after floods reached homes in the Springfield townland of Clonlara, forcing several residents to evacuate.

Limerick City and County Council also remains on alert after experiencing rising water levels in a number of areas amid fears that the region could be badly hit if the ESB has to increase the flow of water through Parteen Weir.