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Storm Ophelia: second person killed in Ireland, police confirm - latest updates Storm Ophelia: second person killed in Ireland, police confirm - latest updates
(35 minutes later)
3.59pm BST
15:59
Henry McDonald
Ahead of her dinner in Brussels this evening, Theresa May spoke with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar this afternoon. She expressed her condolences over the loss of two lives so far in Ireland (since up to three) connected with storm Ophelia.
A Downing Street spokesman said:
On storm Ophelia, the prime minister expressed her sympathies for the loss of life and said the UK government stood ready to provide any support if requested.
3.57pm BST
15:57
Third person reported dead
A person in Dundalk, near the border with Northern Ireland, has died after a tree fell on their car, taking the death toll in Ireland as a result of the storm to three, Dublin-based station 98FM and others are reporting.
3.52pm BST
15:52
Schools in Ireland will not reopen tomorrow, the Irish minister for education has announced, citing the need to ensure child safety.
Following careful consideration by the National Emergency Coordination Group, the Department of Education and Skills, has decided that all schools will remain closed tomorrow #Ophelia
This decision was primarily taken in the interests of child safety and on the basis of information available in what is a developing situation #Ophelia
Updated
at 3.53pm BST
3.51pm BST
15:51
Unsurprisingly, Cork airport has said there will be no more flights today, with a video illustrating why.
No flights will depart @CorkAirport for the remainder of today. Please check arriving flight status with your airline in advance of travel pic.twitter.com/bzezFyJIHE
3.42pm BST
15:42
Henry McDonald
Northern Ireland Electricity has announced that 1,300 customers are without power as Storm Ophelia starts to batter the region this afternoon.
NIE is reporting what it describes as “widespread damage” across Northern Ireland. As the storm system rolls over the north of Ireland, the rail link between Belfast to Dublin has been temporarily shut down.
Updated
at 3.44pm BST
3.36pm BST
15:36
The Associated Press reports that the wind speed off Cork has reached 118mph.
Most powerful gust yet recorded as #Ophelia riles Ireland: 190 kph (118 mph) on Fastnet Rock off Cork coast. Photo from @IrishCoastGuard. pic.twitter.com/oY88TE5DM4
Meanwhile wind speeds in Wales are also increasing, hitting 77mph.
Winds have increased markedly in west Wales over the last hour, top gust 77mph in Aberdaron. #Ophelia CF pic.twitter.com/md0BGXn7Yh
3.32pm BST
15:32
Coastal defences in Galway, on Ireland’s west coast, have been overwhelmed.
Coastal defences completely breached at Salthill, Galway. The Atlantic now extends to the promenade. #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/qF9B47Ty3i
3.23pm BST3.23pm BST
15:2315:23
Matthew HolmesMatthew Holmes
Readers around Ireland and the UK have been getting in touch to share their experiences of the storm as it passes by where they live.Sam, in Timoleague, south-west of Cork, shared images of trees strewn across local roads, which he said were mostly deserted:Readers around Ireland and the UK have been getting in touch to share their experiences of the storm as it passes by where they live.Sam, in Timoleague, south-west of Cork, shared images of trees strewn across local roads, which he said were mostly deserted:
Conor Graham, in Cork, has described missile-like tiles flying off buildings and implores other readers to stay safe.Conor Graham, in Cork, has described missile-like tiles flying off buildings and implores other readers to stay safe.
There are also multiple reports of that red-tinged sun – as experts have said debris from the storm is causing a haze in cities as far away as Chesterfield, Solihull and Surrey.There are also multiple reports of that red-tinged sun – as experts have said debris from the storm is causing a haze in cities as far away as Chesterfield, Solihull and Surrey.
You can share your experiences using the form here or with the GuardianWitness contribute buttons on this page, but please think of your safety first when recording or sharing content.You can share your experiences using the form here or with the GuardianWitness contribute buttons on this page, but please think of your safety first when recording or sharing content.
UpdatedUpdated
at 3.28pm BSTat 3.28pm BST
3.18pm BST3.18pm BST
15:1815:18
360,000 homes without power360,000 homes without power
The Irish Republic’s Electricity Supply Board has said that 360,000 customers are now without power due to Storm Ophelia.The Irish Republic’s Electricity Supply Board has said that 360,000 customers are now without power due to Storm Ophelia.
The energy supplier warned that more outages are expected and that repair operations could take several days. Meanwhile, power cuts are starting to happen in Northern Ireland, including at the Stormont Parliament, where Bill Clinton was meant to be visiting today.The energy supplier warned that more outages are expected and that repair operations could take several days. Meanwhile, power cuts are starting to happen in Northern Ireland, including at the Stormont Parliament, where Bill Clinton was meant to be visiting today.
3.14pm BST3.14pm BST
15:1415:14
Henry McDonaldHenry McDonald
An international photojournalist has contacted the Guardian with a graphic account of what it was like to be in an aircraft trying to land in Dublin in the middle of Storm Ophelia. You can see footage of another plane’s precarious landing in Dublin in an earlier update.An international photojournalist has contacted the Guardian with a graphic account of what it was like to be in an aircraft trying to land in Dublin in the middle of Storm Ophelia. You can see footage of another plane’s precarious landing in Dublin in an earlier update.
Writing from Aer Lingus plane after it just touched down a few minutes ago, Paulo Nunes Santos wanted to praise the female pilot who guided flight EI483 from Lisbon safely home. Writing from an Aer Lingus plane after it just touched down a few minutes ago, Paulo Nunes Santos wanted to praise the female pilot who guided flight EI483 from Lisbon safely home.
Santos, originally from Portugal but who has lived in Dublin for 15 years, said:Santos, originally from Portugal but who has lived in Dublin for 15 years, said:
I’ve been in hundreds, if not thousands of flights, but never experienced this level of turbulence.I’ve been in hundreds, if not thousands of flights, but never experienced this level of turbulence.
We only started feeling it more or less as we started approaching via Cork. The pilot was great. The plane shook like mad and the approach to the runway was the worst I have experienced. But the pilot, she was brilliant.We only started feeling it more or less as we started approaching via Cork. The pilot was great. The plane shook like mad and the approach to the runway was the worst I have experienced. But the pilot, she was brilliant.
Oddly there was no panic among the passengers. Every clapped and applauded the pilot, we were told her name is Niamh Jennings. You feel the huge sense of relief in the plane.Oddly there was no panic among the passengers. Every clapped and applauded the pilot, we were told her name is Niamh Jennings. You feel the huge sense of relief in the plane.
Updated
at 3.41pm BST
3.02pm BST3.02pm BST
15:0215:02
Irish Police have confirmed that a man in his 30s was killed while clearing a tree with a chain saw in Ballybrado, Tipperary. Irish police have confirmed that a man in his 30s was killed while clearing a tree with a chainsaw in Ballybrado, Tipperary.
Irish death toll in #Ophelia rises to 2. Police say Tipperary man in 30s mortally wounded by own chainsaw as he cleared a felled tree. pic.twitter.com/bIaim1f8XwIrish death toll in #Ophelia rises to 2. Police say Tipperary man in 30s mortally wounded by own chainsaw as he cleared a felled tree. pic.twitter.com/bIaim1f8Xw
2.58pm BST
14:58
Reports of a second death
There are reports of a second death from the storm. A man was killed trying to clear a tree with a chainsaw in Tipperary, according to the Irish Daily Mirror.
BREAKING: A man has been killed in Tipperary after trying to clear away a tree with a chainsaw. More to follow. #Ophelia
Second storm related death.@GardaTraffic report incident at Cahir, Co Tipp; man in his 30s killed clearing fallen trees.#Ophelia
Earlier a woman was killed when a tree landed on her car in county Waterford.
2.49pm BST
14:49
Seán Hassett said he filmed his parents’ wobbly flight landing at Dublin. “My heart was in my mouth,” he tweeted.
My parents flight landing @DublinAirport, well done to the pilot of EI491, my heart was in my mouth! #ophelia pic.twitter.com/2EvzA1BKk6
2.43pm BST
14:43
The Irish Coast Guard was called out to rescue kite surfers who got into difficulty off the coast of county Louth, north of Dublin.
CG, RNLI & R116 were tasked today to kite surfers in difficulty off Louth. We advise the public to stay away from the coast during #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/HkjNWQeBcR
Police in Ireland are warning people to stay away from the coast.
Gardaí are requesting people to stay away from waterways, cliff walks etc. People are not heeding the warnings given. #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/U2Fm8vzuJ9
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.50pm BST at 3.41pm BST
2.34pm BST
14:34
The Environment Agency has three flood warnings and 13 flood alerts in place for south west and north west England.
Cumbria council has closed the Ford bridge in Burneside, near Kendal
#StormOphelia #weatheraware #Cumbria EMERGENCY CLOSURE: Ford Bridge, Burneside nr Kendal for public safety. pic.twitter.com/qYXOL16mga
2.29pm BST
14:29
More strange light is being reported across the UK.
The sky is eerie. The end is nigh. pic.twitter.com/A1hKl3dxGp
Has anyone seen the red sun phenomenon caused by Hurricane #Ophelia!? Quite an effect - captured here by @RJSYork pic.twitter.com/Of1y8cGvT3
#Sahara dust stopped play here at @TheAgeasBowl... 🌀 #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/5r8w4tI421
Going out on patrol and noticed how orange the sky and sun are. Gorse Hill SNT #opheliahurricane pic.twitter.com/rmBTPXJqYV
The sky is a weird yellowy/grey colour 😳#Ophelia is brewing, batten down the hatches!#TakeCareFolks ❤ pic.twitter.com/Kiqc01ZRGz
2.17pm BST
14:17
There are several reports of a strange dark orange light in northern England.
Strange light. Very warm winds.#Ophelia pic.twitter.com/H8Nns73ewA
Bad light? 😳 #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/yJpk2kepJ4
Weather in Newcastle is so weird today. It's dark and the sky is like an orange-amber colour caused by this hurricane #ophelia #balls
Earlier today a red looking sun was seen in many parts of England. The light is caused by particulates thrown up by the storm, according to experts.
2.11pm BST
14:11
All trains cancelled in Ireland
Irish Rail has cancelled all trains for the rest of the day.
No more train departures on any line on our network for rest of day. If safe to do so, all routes resume Tues 17 Oct https://t.co/ZOHwurtrN3 pic.twitter.com/nOinrxfZFI
2.07pm BST
14:07
Schools in Pembrokeshire close
All schools in Pembrokeshire on the west of Wales coast have been closed, as disruption from Ophelia spreads to the UK.
At least four downed trees are causing traffic problems in the county, the council said.
Around 200 homes are without power in the Eglwyswrw area, including the school which had to close early. The council decided to close all of its schools at 1pm.
1.52pm BST
13:52
The number of homes and businesses without power has almost doubled to 230,000, according to RTE.
230,000 homes and businesses without power #ophelia
Power cuts are no longer confined to the south-west of Ireland. Around a thousand homes are without power in Cong in County Mayo.
Approx 1,000 homes without power in Cong #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/CqjdUEWczx
Updated
at 2.00pm BST
1.47pm BST
13:47
Henry McDonald
The violent winds caused by Storm Ophelia has affected the filming of Game of Thrones.
Set building for the cult television series, a large part of which is filmed in Northern Ireland, has been suspended due to the storm.
Filming on the new Superman prequel series Krypton, which is also being shot in the region, has also been halted for the day due to safety fears.
Updated
at 2.03pm BST