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Second major storm in two months for north-west

Walkers braved the gales on the beach at Portrush in County Antrim as ex-Hurricane Ophelia swept along the Causeway coast. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Walkers braved the gales on the beach at Portrush in County Antrim as ex-Hurricane Ophelia swept along the Causeway coast. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Walkers braved the gales on the beach at Portrush in County Antrim as ex-Hurricane Ophelia swept along the Causeway coast. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

The north west went into complete lockdown as the region prepared for the arrival of Storm Ophelia, the second major storm to hit within two months.

Councils in Derry, Tyrone and Donegal launched their emergency response schemes. The north west is still recovering from devastating rain storms which caused widespread damage and left many homeless in August.

In Derry, the city’s pedestrian Peace Bridge was closed from early afternoon although the Foyle Bridge remained open but under observation. There were also a number of power outages in Counties Derry and Donegal.

A spokeswoman for Derry City and Strabane District council also confirmed that all county facilities had closed from 3pm.

“Cemeteries will be open to facilitate funerals only and will not be open to the public,” she said.

Translink also announced that all metro services in Derry city were to be suspended from 5.30pm last night in preparation for the arrival of the storm.

Foyle Search and Rescue was also forced to suspend a search of the River Foyle for a man seen entering the river last Friday.

A police spokesman said the decision to suspend the search was taken with the support of the missing man’s family.

The PSNI spokesman said: “We would advise any person to consider their own safety in and around the river area given the current weather warnings.”

By tea-time, there were reports of some trees falling. In Donegal wind speeds of 107km/hour (66mph) were recorded at Malin Head.

All postal deliveries in Donegal were cancelled while the county’s Glenveagh National park and Inch Wildfowl Reserve were closed under the Republic’s Red Weather Alert.

Donegal TD and Irish government chief whip, Joe McHugh said that the Irish Army remained on standby.

Mr McHugh said: “This is the real thing and people need to be ready.”