North-West Hit By Severe Flooding And Torrential Rain

Homes, roads and bridges have been damaged following torrential rain across the North-West last night, Tuesday 22 August.

Roads were turned into rivers in Donegal, Derry and Tyrone, while more than 100 people had to be rescued from vehicles caught in flash flooding and violent storms.

All flights in and out of Derry City Airport have been cancelled after the airport building was severely flooded.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) responded to 85 incidents as a result of the heavy rainfall and into the early hours of this morning.

Alan Walmsley, Assistant Chief Fire & Rescue Officer at NIFRS said: "We worked closely with colleagues from the Irish Coastguard Agency, PSNI, Ambulance Service, Foyle Search and Rescue and local Councils, to respond to incidents to assist members of the public.

"Our specialist teams including the Water Rescue Teams and Specialist Rescue Team from Belfast were deployed and worked alongside local operational crews."

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Transport, Tourism and Sport, Robert Troy TD, has now called on Transport Minister Shane Ross to release emergency funding to help repair damaged transport infrastructure.

"The torrential rain that has fallen in parts of Donegal over the last 24 hours has caused significant damage to transport infrastructure such as roads and bridges," he said.

"The signalling along the Dublin to Galway / Westport train service has also been affected by the storm which has led to significant delays for passengers.

"It's clear that emergency funding will be needed to help repair the damage to roads and bridges in particular. Minister Ross needs to put in place a contingency fund to help repair the damage and ensure that works are carried out without delay."

(LM)