Gales leave homes without power
More than 60,000 Irish homes were without power today after a night of heavy storms with winds reaching speeds of up to 80 mph.
Emergency crews have been working overnight to repair lines and the Electricity Supply Board said it was confident power would be restored to most parts later today.
The worst affected areas were along the east coast and the midlands in the Republic where torrential rain also led to flooding and a number of roads were closed.
Up to 30 roads were also closed across Northern Ireland as trees were blown down across the province and other routes were flooded.
Gardaí and the Police Service of Northern Ireland both urged motorists to avoid any unnecessary journeys and to drive with extreme care in the treacherous conditions.
Trees have fallen on to roads in the Swords area of north Dublin.
Meanwhile in Cork, where a massive carnival is due to take place this evening to mark the start of the city’s tenure as European City of Culture 2005, the Lee Road into the City was closed due to flooding.
Several routes in Galway including the coast road between Oranmore and the city were also flooded.
A housing estate in Ballinasloe was evacuated last night after a nearby river burst its banks.
Many roads in Dundalk, just south of the border, were blocked by fallen trees but there was limited access to the M1, the main motorway from Dublin to Belfast.
Gardai said many roads will remain closed for much of the day.
Police in Northern Ireland said roads in Omagh, Newry, Portadown and Carrickfergus were worst affected.
A police spokeswoman said there were reports of trees down on roads across the North, while power lines were also affected in some areas.
She said three people were taken to hospital when a tree fell on their car on the Martrey Road in Ballygawley.
A chimney also collapsed on parked cars in India Street, south Belfast.
Police warned drivers that high-sided vehicles including lorries and buses would be unable to exit Newcastle in Co Down due to fallen trees.
The River Road in Dunmurry, south Belfast, was also closed due to a fallen tree.
A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Roads Service said it would take some considerable time to reopen all the province’s roads.
“We are dealing with calls as quickly as we can and I expect our men to be very busy the whole way through today.”
